Case 8:19-cv-01118-DOC-DFM Document 58 Filed 11/04/19 Page 1 of 3 Page ID #:804

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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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11 PANASONIC CORPORATION, Case No.: 8:19-cv-01118-DOC-DFM

12 Plaintiff, ORDER APPOINTING SPECIAL

MASTER
13 vs.
14 GETAC TECHNOLOGY
15 CORPORATION and GETAC, INC.,
16 Defendants.
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19 This appointment is made pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53.
20 As Rule 53 requires, the Court sets out below the duties and terms of the Special
21 Master and reasons for appointment, and ORDERS the Special Master to “proceed
22 with all reasonable diligence.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(b)(2).
23 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
24 1. The Court hereby appoints Alan Ball to serve as the Special Master
25 for the Court in this case. Mr. Ball’s contact information has been provided to the
26 Court by counsel for Plaintiff and Defendants, who have interviewed Mr. Ball with
27 respect to any conflict of interest or other reason or ground for disqualification.
28 See Fed. R. Civ. P. 53(a)(2); 28 U.S.C. § 455:

ORDER APPOINTING SPECIAL MASTER

Case 8:19-cv-01118-DOC-DFM Document 58 Filed 11/04/19 Page 2 of 3 Page ID #:805

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2 Alan Ball
Alan Ball Industrial Design (A.B.I.D.)
3 50 Francesca Avenue
4 Somerville, MA 02144-2002
617-718-9342
5 aball@abidstudio.com
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2. The Special Master will be compensated at a rate of $325 per hour.
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The Special Master will apportion the fees incurred for his work on this matter
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equally between Plaintiff Panasonic Corporation, on the one hand, and Defendants
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Getac Technology Corporation and Getac, Inc., on the other hand. Payment will
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be due within 60 days of receipt of each invoice.
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3. The Special Master shall incur only such fees and expenses as may be
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reasonably necessary to fulfill his duties under this Order, or such other Orders as
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the Court may issue. Such fees shall be subject to review of the Court upon written
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request of any party or of the Special Master.
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4. The Special Master shall function as the Court’s technical expert in
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this case, and not on behalf of any party, in order to advise the Court with respect
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to industrial design matters and the underlying technology in this case.
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5. The Parties understand that the Special Master will provide work
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product to the Court confidentially and meet with the Court confidentially, in
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person or by telephone or other means.
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6. The Special Master shall not communicate ex parte with a party to
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this lawsuit.
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7. The Special Master shall retain copies of any documents received
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from, or exchanged with, the Court, any documents considered or relied upon in
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advising the Court, and any work product resulting from his service as Special
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Master.
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8. The Special Master shall comply with terms of any protective order
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ORDER APPOINTING SPECIAL MASTER
Case 8:19-cv-01118-DOC-DFM Document 58 Filed 11/04/19 Page 3 of 3 Page ID #:806

1 entered in this case concerning confidential and/or highly confidential information.

2 9. The Special Master shall serve until he completes the duties outlined
3 herein, the Court’s jurisdiction expires, or the Court terminates this appointment,
4 whichever comes first.
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6 IT IS SO ORDERED.
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8 DATED: November 4, 2019
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THE HONORABLE DAVID O. CARTER
10 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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ORDER APPOINTING SPECIAL MASTER