Samsung requests new Apple trial on claims of jury misconduct

Samsung's argument leans heavily on juror interviews published directly following the landmark case, especially those regarding the possible insertion of outside evidence into deliberations by jury foreman Velvin Hogan, reports CNET.

In a post-trial interview, Hogan, a patent holder who served on a jury three times before the Apple and Samsung case, said he helped guide the jury through some of the more complex patent issues. Another juror, Manuel Ilagan, confirmed the claims.

"Some were not sure of how prior art could either render a patent acceptable or whether it could invalidate it," Hogan said during an interview with Bloomberg. "What we did is we started talking about one... (I) laid it out for them."

While the statement is not an admission of introducing evidence not presented by Apple and Samsung during the trial's proceedings, it does raise questions as to what exactly was said and how it may have influenced the jury's final decision.

Post-verdict probes into jury deliberations are a rarity, and carries its own federal rule which states, "during an inquiry into the validity of a verdict or indictment, a juror may not testify about any statement made or incident that occurred during the jury's deliberations." However, if "extraneous prejudicial information was improperly brought to the jury's attention," an inquiry can lead to a retrial.

In this case, Samsung is alleging Hogan introduced "extraneous prejudicial information" by mentioning and possibly instructing jurors with his previous patent case experiences. The jury foreman assured presiding Judge Lucy Koh that he would apply the law as per the Court's instruction "and not based on [his] understanding of the law based on [his] own cases."

Samsung cited a number of cases which were overturned due to jury misconduct, however it remains to be seen whether the Korean company can prove that such action was taken during its trial against Apple.

Also in contention is the limited amount of time with which the parties were allowed to argue their respective cases. Judge Koh allotted 25 hours each for testimony and cross examination and an additional two hours for closing arguments. During the trial, Samsung used up most of its time cross-examining Apple's witnesses, leaving little room for the company to mount its own case. Apple, on the other hand, handled their time in a more efficient manner.

"The court's constraints on trial time, witnesses and exhibits were unprecedented for a patent case of this complexity and magnitude, and prevented Samsung from presenting a full and fair case in response to Apple's many claims," the new trial request states.

As Samsung seeks a totally new trial, Apple is moving ahead with its own agenda, and most recently requested another $707 million be added to its $1 billion damages award. The two parties are scheduled to meet again in December to discuss further injunctions and damages related to post-trial motions.