Apple, Jawbone Chided Over Flouted Schedule in Patent Case

US District Judge Alan Albright scolded Apple Inc. and wearable tech company Jawbone Innovations LLC over their unilateral decision to move a patent case’s filing deadlines, but he reversed a decision transferring the case from West Texas to Apple’s desired venue so Jawbone wouldn’t bear the brunt of the consequences for a joint mistake.

In a Tuesday order, Albright said a misunderstanding over venue-transfer discovery deadlines that led to Jawbone and Apple changing their own briefing deadlines without first asking court permission was “inexcusable,” even if the parties didn’t believe the tweaks would affect their patent dispute over noise-cancelling technology. ...