Comcast, Clear Connection Fighting Over Discovery Scope, Trial Start
Comcast and Clear Connection are at loggerheads about discovery issues and when their claims against one another should go to trial, said a joint status report filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Sacramento. In the filing, Clear Connection said…
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trial should be scheduled for Nov. 1, citing the time that passed since it brought its initial complaint in 2012. Comcast, in urging a May 2017 trial start, said the amount of discovery, disclosing experts and filing summary judgment motions makes Clear Connection's proposed schedule unworkable. In its initial antitrust and unfair competition claims against Comcast, Clear Connection alleged Comcast conspired with some cable installation companies to consolidate the installation market and force Clear Connections and others out of business. Comcast subsequently brought counterclaims for Clear Connections' alleged failure to meet contractual indemnification obligations. In the status report, Comcast said it intends to file motions for summary judgment on its counterclaims and Clear Connections claims. Clear Connections in the status report -- citing "the scope of the present antitrust claims and the sheer size and magnitude of Comcast as a corporate defendant" -- asked for lifting of the default caps on discovery, which Comcast called "a fishing expedition." Clear Connection's website said the company installs cable for data networks.