Total Wine Fails to Circumvent Texas Patent Suit in California

Total Wine & More failed to escape a Texas patent lawsuit by filing a declaratory judgment action in California federal court. Magistrate Judge Nathanael M. Cousins dismissed the California case, ruling it would undermine judicial efficiency since it involves the same parties and mobile app patents as the earlier Texas suit. The court noted parties could return to California if Total Wine's pending motion to dismiss for improper venue succeeds in Texas.