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Try CasePortal for FreeJ. Ericksen issues decisions on ten motions in limine in the patent claimant's suit alleging that competitors infringed on four patents related to artificial trees. One of the claimant's motions in limine is granted outright, and the competitors are precluded from presenting evidence or arguments regarding prior lawsuits. Two more are granted in part: the competitors may reference the existence and invalid status of eight underlying, unasserted independent claims, but should avoid discussing the proceedings that led to their dismissal and focus on how their invalidity impacts the obviousness analysis for remaining dependent claims, and while they may not introduce evidence specifically aimed at establishing inequitable conduct they may reference undisclosed prior art. They may also introduce evidence and testimony regarding their beliefs and independent investigation into infringement and validity issues, along with sales data for unaccused products. Four of the competitors' motions, meanwhile are denied, while one is partially granted. Deposition transcripts from those earlier proceedings are excluded, as are live testimony from a third-party witness and a license agreement which was disclosed several months after its execution. The competitor's motions are otherwise denied.