Recent Decision Highlights Discoverability of Funding Arrangements
In a recent discovery dispute in the Northern District of California, Judge Sallie Kim has ordered the plaintiff to produce litigation funding agreements, finding them relevant to potential witness bias. The April 29, 2025 order in Correct Transmission, LLC v. Juniper Networks Inc (Case No. 21-cv-09284-RFL) provides important guidance on when litigation funding arrangements may be discoverable despite work product protection claims.
Case Background
The case involves patent infringement claims brought by Correct Transmission against Juniper Networks. The patents-in-suit have an interesting ownership history, having changed hands multiple times before the current litigation:
- Originally owned by Orckit Communications (co-founded by CEO Izhak Tamir)
- After liquidation, purchased by Orckit IP in 2015 (funded by Tamir)
- Later assigned to Correct Transmission for enforcement and licensing
- Correct Transmission then entered into litigation funding agreements to monetize the patents
The dispute centered on whether these litigation funding agreements should be produced to the defendant.