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"paragraph_id": "para_6" }, { "text": "EOFLOW, CO. LTD., EOFLOW, INC., JESSE J. KIM,", "paragraph_id": "para_7" }, { "text": "Defendants-Appellants", "paragraph_id": "para_8" }, { "text": "______________________", "paragraph_id": "para_9" }, { "text": "2025-1807", "paragraph_id": "para_10" }, { "text": "______________________", "paragraph_id": "para_11" }, { "text": "Appeal from the United States District Court for the", "paragraph_id": "para_12" }, { "text": "District of Massachusetts in No. 1:23-cv-11780-FDS, Judge", "paragraph_id": "para_13" }, { "text": "F. Dennis Saylor, IV.", "paragraph_id": "para_14" }, { "text": "______________________", "paragraph_id": "para_15" }, { "text": "Decided: May 28, 2026", "paragraph_id": "para_16" }, { "text": "______________________", "paragraph_id": "para_17" }, { "text": "WILLIAM M. JAY, Goodwin Procter LLP, Washington,", "paragraph_id": "para_18" }, { "text": "DC, argued for plaintiff-appellee. Also represented by", "paragraph_id": "para_19" }, { "text": "MATTHEW GINTHER; ROBERT CARROLL, WILLIAM EVANS,", "paragraph_id": "para_20" }, { "text": "ROBERT FREDERICKSON, III, ALEXANDRA LU, Boston, MA;", "paragraph_id": "para_21" }, { "text": "ALEXANDRA D. VALENTI, New York, NY.", "paragraph_id": "para_22" }, { "text": "ELIZABETH PRELOGAR, Cooley LLP, Washington, DC,", "paragraph_id": "para_23" }, { "text": "argued for defendants-appellants. Also represented by", "paragraph_id": "para_24" }, { "text": "ELIZABETH M. FLANAGAN, Minneapolis, MN; LOWELL D.", "paragraph_id": "para_25" }, { "text": "MEAD, Palo Alto, CA.", "paragraph_id": "para_26" }, { "text": "______________________", "paragraph_id": "para_27" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 1 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_28" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.2", "paragraph_id": "para_29" }, { "text": "Before DYK, PROST, and REYNA, Circuit Judges.", "paragraph_id": "para_30" }, { "text": "Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge DYK.", "paragraph_id": "para_31" }, { "text": "Dissenting opinion filed by Circuit Judge PROST.", "paragraph_id": "para_32" }, { "text": "DYK, Circuit Judge.", "paragraph_id": "para_33" }, { "text": "Insulet Corporation (“Insulet”) sued EOFlow, Co. Ltd.,", "paragraph_id": "para_34" }, { "text": "EOFlow, Inc., and its chief executive officer and major", "paragraph_id": "para_35" }, { "text": "stockholder Jesse Kim (collectively, “EOFlow” unless oth-", "paragraph_id": "para_36" }, { "text": "erwise noted) for trade secret misappropriation under the", "paragraph_id": "para_37" }, { "text": "Defend Trade Secrets Act (“DTSA”) and for patent infringe-", "paragraph_id": "para_38" }, { "text": "ment. The district court bifurcated Insulet’s trade secret", "paragraph_id": "para_39" }, { "text": "misappropriation claim from the patent claims.", "paragraph_id": "para_40" }, { "text": "EOFlow argued that the statute of limitations had ex-", "paragraph_id": "para_41" }, { "text": "pired for Insulet’s trade secret misappropriation claim.", "paragraph_id": "para_42" }, { "text": "The district court denied both parties’ summary judgment", "paragraph_id": "para_43" }, { "text": "motions on the limitations issue. The case proceeded to a", "paragraph_id": "para_44" }, { "text": "jury trial on the DTSA claim. The jury found that EOFlow", "paragraph_id": "para_45" }, { "text": "misappropriated four Insulet trade secrets and that In-", "paragraph_id": "para_46" }, { "text": "sulet’s claim was not time-barred for any of the misappro-", "paragraph_id": "para_47" }, { "text": "priated trade secrets and awarded damages. The district", "paragraph_id": "para_48" }, { "text": "court denied EOFlow’s posttrial judgment as a matter of", "paragraph_id": "para_49" }, { "text": "law (“JMOL”) motion; entered judgment awarding Insulet", "paragraph_id": "para_50" }, { "text": "damages; held both EOFlow entities and Mr. Kim jointly", "paragraph_id": "para_51" }, { "text": "and severally liable for the damages; and issued a perma-", "paragraph_id": "para_52" }, { "text": "nent injunction. After trial, the patent claims were dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_53" }, { "text": "missed without prejudice. EOFlow appeals.", "paragraph_id": "para_54" }, { "text": "We conclude that we have jurisdiction because the pa-", "paragraph_id": "para_55" }, { "text": "tent claims were effectively dismissed with prejudice. On", "paragraph_id": "para_56" }, { "text": "the merits, we determine that EOFlow was entitled to", "paragraph_id": "para_57" }, { "text": "JMOL on Insulet’s DTSA claim because the statute of lim-", "paragraph_id": "para_58" }, { "text": "itations had expired before Insulet brought suit. We re-", "paragraph_id": "para_59" }, { "text": "verse.", "paragraph_id": "para_60" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 2 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_61" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 3", "paragraph_id": "para_62" }, { "text": "BACKGROUND", "paragraph_id": "para_63" }, { "text": "I", "paragraph_id": "para_64" }, { "text": "The following summary is based on the undisputed tes-", "paragraph_id": "para_65" }, { "text": "timony at trial, unless otherwise noted. Insulet is a medi-", "paragraph_id": "para_66" }, { "text": "cal-device manufacturer that makes an adhesive, wearable", "paragraph_id": "para_67" }, { "text": "insulin patch pump called the Omnipod®, which was first", "paragraph_id": "para_68" }, { "text": "marketed in 2005. After its initial launch, Insulet contin-", "paragraph_id": "para_69" }, { "text": "ued to work on next-generation versions of the Omnipod,", "paragraph_id": "para_70" }, { "text": "including the Omnipod Eros. Insulet marketed the Om-", "paragraph_id": "para_71" }, { "text": "nipod Eros beginning in 2011.", "paragraph_id": "para_72" }, { "text": "EOFlow also developed an adhesive, wearable insulin", "paragraph_id": "para_73" }, { "text": "patch pump called the EOPatch®. EOFlow never mar-", "paragraph_id": "para_74" }, { "text": "keted the first-generation EOPatch, and this patch pump", "paragraph_id": "para_75" }, { "text": "was not alleged to have been developed through trade se-", "paragraph_id": "para_76" }, { "text": "cret misappropriation. However, Insulet alleged trade se-", "paragraph_id": "para_77" }, { "text": "cret misappropriation, beginning in 2018, in connection", "paragraph_id": "para_78" }, { "text": "with EOFlow’s efforts to develop a second-generation patch", "paragraph_id": "para_79" }, { "text": "pump, known as the EOPatch 2. This pump was later mar-", "paragraph_id": "para_80" }, { "text": "keted in Europe and South Korea.", "paragraph_id": "para_81" }, { "text": "EOFlow’s misappropriation was alleged to have oc-", "paragraph_id": "para_82" }, { "text": "curred when EOFlow hired several former Insulet employ-", "paragraph_id": "para_83" }, { "text": "ees to help develop and commercialize the EOPatch 2.", "paragraph_id": "para_84" }, { "text": "These former employees had signed confidentiality and", "paragraph_id": "para_85" }, { "text": "non-disclosure agreements at Insulet. One of the former", "paragraph_id": "para_86" }, { "text": "Insulet employees, Steve DiIanni, the Director of Mechan-", "paragraph_id": "para_87" }, { "text": "ical Engineering at Insulet, was allegedly “entrusted with", "paragraph_id": "para_88" }, { "text": "details of every aspect of the research and development ef-", "paragraph_id": "para_89" }, { "text": "forts to create the world’s first insulin patch pump,”", "paragraph_id": "para_90" }, { "text": "J.A. 321 ¶ 40, and possessed “detailed technical infor-", "paragraph_id": "para_91" }, { "text": "mation about Insulet’s Omnipod product, including but not", "paragraph_id": "para_92" }, { "text": "limited to product specifications, material compositions,", "paragraph_id": "para_93" }, { "text": "coating materials, . . . operational software requirements", "paragraph_id": "para_94" }, { "text": "and details, dimensional tolerances, . . . and other product", "paragraph_id": "para_95" }, { "text": "and manufacturing details.” J.A. 322 ¶ 41.", "paragraph_id": "para_96" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 3 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_97" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.4", "paragraph_id": "para_98" }, { "text": "Mr. DiIanni provided assistance to EOFlow in develop-", "paragraph_id": "para_99" }, { "text": "ing a second-generation patch pump. Between March and", "paragraph_id": "para_100" }, { "text": "May 2018, Mr. DiIanni shared computer-aided design", "paragraph_id": "para_101" }, { "text": "(CAD) files for the Omnipod Eros, information about the", "paragraph_id": "para_102" }, { "text": "design and manufacture of the Omnipod’s soft cannula,", "paragraph_id": "para_103" }, { "text": "and information regarding the Omnipod’s occlusion-detec-", "paragraph_id": "para_104" }, { "text": "tion algorithm with EOFlow. Insulet alleges that these dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_105" }, { "text": "closures, among others, constituted trade secret", "paragraph_id": "para_106" }, { "text": "misappropriation.1", "paragraph_id": "para_107" }, { "text": "II", "paragraph_id": "para_108" }, { "text": "On August 3, 2023, Insulet brought suit against", "paragraph_id": "para_109" }, { "text": "EOFlow in the District of Massachusetts asserting trade", "paragraph_id": "para_110" }, { "text": "secret misappropriation under the DTSA and patent in-", "paragraph_id": "para_111" }, { "text": "fringement. Insulet moved for a preliminary injunction", "paragraph_id": "para_112" }, { "text": "against EOFlow on the DTSA claim. The district court", "paragraph_id": "para_113" }, { "text": "granted the preliminary injunction and bifurcated the", "paragraph_id": "para_114" }, { "text": "DTSA claim and patent claims. We reversed the district", "paragraph_id": "para_115" }, { "text": "court’s grant of preliminary injunction. Insulet Corp.", "paragraph_id": "para_116" }, { "text": "v. EOFlow, Co. (“Insulet I”), 104 F.4th 873 (Fed. Cir. June", "paragraph_id": "para_117" }, { "text": "17, 2024). We concluded that the district court “fail[ed] to", "paragraph_id": "para_118" }, { "text": "address the statute of limitations,” failed to conduct “a tai-", "paragraph_id": "para_119" }, { "text": "lored analysis as to what specific information actually con-", "paragraph_id": "para_120" }, { "text": "stituted a trade secret,” and “abused its discretion in", "paragraph_id": "para_121" }, { "text": "reaching its findings as to irreparable harm and the public", "paragraph_id": "para_122" }, { "text": "interest.” Insulet I, 104 F.4th at 883.", "paragraph_id": "para_123" }, { "text": "On remand, EOFlow and Insulet both moved for sum-", "paragraph_id": "para_124" }, { "text": "mary judgment on the statute of limitations issue. Under", "paragraph_id": "para_125" }, { "text": "the DTSA, the statute of limitations expires “3 years after", "paragraph_id": "para_126" }, { "text": "1 Insulet also alleged that former Insulet employees", "paragraph_id": "para_127" }, { "text": "Luis Malave and Ian Welsford misappropriated Insulet’s", "paragraph_id": "para_128" }, { "text": "trade secrets in the development of the EOPatch 2. As each", "paragraph_id": "para_129" }, { "text": "of these alleged disclosures occurred after Mr. DiIanni’s in-", "paragraph_id": "para_130" }, { "text": "itial disclosures to EOFlow, none is relevant to the statute", "paragraph_id": "para_131" }, { "text": "of limitations issue.", "paragraph_id": "para_132" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 4 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_133" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 5", "paragraph_id": "para_134" }, { "text": "the date on which the misappropriation with respect to", "paragraph_id": "para_135" }, { "text": "which the action would relate is discovered or by the exer-", "paragraph_id": "para_136" }, { "text": "cise of reasonable diligence should have been discovered.", "paragraph_id": "para_137" }, { "text": "For purposes of this subsection, a continuing misappropri-", "paragraph_id": "para_138" }, { "text": "ation constitutes a single claim of misappropriation.”", "paragraph_id": "para_139" }, { "text": "18 U.S.C. § 1836(d). EOFlow contended that the DTSA", "paragraph_id": "para_140" }, { "text": "should be interpreted to incorporate an inquiry-notice", "paragraph_id": "para_141" }, { "text": "standard and that Insulet’s claim was time-barred as a", "paragraph_id": "para_142" }, { "text": "matter of law under that standard. Insulet, in turn, argued", "paragraph_id": "para_143" }, { "text": "that the Supreme Court’s decision in Merck & Co. v. Reyn-", "paragraph_id": "para_144" }, { "text": "olds, 559 U.S. 633 (2010), had rejected an inquiry-notice", "paragraph_id": "para_145" }, { "text": "standard for a similar statute; that the Merck discovery", "paragraph_id": "para_146" }, { "text": "standard applied; and that its claim was not time-barred", "paragraph_id": "para_147" }, { "text": "as a matter of law under that standard. The district court", "paragraph_id": "para_148" }, { "text": "agreed with Insulet that the Merck standard applied, but", "paragraph_id": "para_149" }, { "text": "concluded there were “material factual disputes concerning", "paragraph_id": "para_150" }, { "text": "the time at which a reasonably diligent company should", "paragraph_id": "para_151" }, { "text": "have discovered the alleged misappropriation” under the", "paragraph_id": "para_152" }, { "text": "Merck standard and denied both summary judgment mo-", "paragraph_id": "para_153" }, { "text": "tions. J.A. 23. At trial, both parties presented evidence on", "paragraph_id": "para_154" }, { "text": "the statute of limitations issue.", "paragraph_id": "para_155" }, { "text": "The jury found EOFlow misappropriated four of In-", "paragraph_id": "para_156" }, { "text": "sulet’s trade secrets: (1) the CAD files for the Omnipod;", "paragraph_id": "para_157" }, { "text": "(2) the design and manufacturing process for the Omnipod", "paragraph_id": "para_158" }, { "text": "soft cannula; (3) the design history file for the Omnipod", "paragraph_id": "para_159" }, { "text": "Eros; and (4) the occlusion-detection algorithm for the Om-", "paragraph_id": "para_160" }, { "text": "nipod. The jury also found that, for each asserted trade", "paragraph_id": "para_161" }, { "text": "secret, Insulet’s claim was not barred by the statute of lim-", "paragraph_id": "para_162" }, { "text": "itations; and that EOFlow, Co. Ltd. and Mr. Kim willfully", "paragraph_id": "para_163" }, { "text": "and maliciously misappropriated three of the trade secrets", "paragraph_id": "para_164" }, { "text": "(the CAD files, occlusion-detection algorithm, and design", "paragraph_id": "para_165" }, { "text": "history file). The jury awarded Insulet $170,000,015 in", "paragraph_id": "para_166" }, { "text": "compensatory damages and $282,000,005 in exemplary", "paragraph_id": "para_167" }, { "text": "damages. After the verdict, on January 3, 2025, the district", "paragraph_id": "para_168" }, { "text": "court dismissed Insulet’s patent claims “without preju-", "paragraph_id": "para_169" }, { "text": "dice.” J.A. 21412.", "paragraph_id": "para_170" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 5 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_171" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.6", "paragraph_id": "para_172" }, { "text": "EOFlow moved for JMOL on the DTSA claim on multi-", "paragraph_id": "para_173" }, { "text": "ple grounds, including that Insulet’s DTSA claim was time-", "paragraph_id": "para_174" }, { "text": "barred under both the inquiry notice and Merck standards.", "paragraph_id": "para_175" }, { "text": "The district court denied EOFlow’s motion.", "paragraph_id": "para_176" }, { "text": "Insulet requested a permanent injunction. EOFlow ar-", "paragraph_id": "para_177" }, { "text": "gued that the permanent injunction was entirely duplica-", "paragraph_id": "para_178" }, { "text": "tive of the jury’s damages award because Insulet’s damages", "paragraph_id": "para_179" }, { "text": "model was based on enjoined future sales of EOPatch 2.", "paragraph_id": "para_180" }, { "text": "The district court agreed that the injunction provided relief", "paragraph_id": "para_181" }, { "text": "that overlapped significantly with the jury’s damages", "paragraph_id": "para_182" }, { "text": "award and reduced the damages award to $25.8 million in", "paragraph_id": "para_183" }, { "text": "compensatory damages and $33.6 million in exemplary", "paragraph_id": "para_184" }, { "text": "damages to prevent double recovery. On April 24, 2025,", "paragraph_id": "para_185" }, { "text": "the district court entered judgment and a permanent in-", "paragraph_id": "para_186" }, { "text": "junction enjoining EOFlow’s disclosure and use of the trade", "paragraph_id": "para_187" }, { "text": "secrets, enjoining the commercialization of “any product", "paragraph_id": "para_188" }, { "text": "that was designed, developed, or manufactured, in whole", "paragraph_id": "para_189" }, { "text": "or in part, using or relying on the Trade Secrets, anywhere", "paragraph_id": "para_190" }, { "text": "in the world,” J.A. 111, and ordered EOFlow to assign cer-", "paragraph_id": "para_191" }, { "text": "tain patent applications to Insulet.", "paragraph_id": "para_192" }, { "text": "EOFlow timely appealed to our court. Insulet then ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_193" }, { "text": "pealed the judgment and injunction to the First Circuit and", "paragraph_id": "para_194" }, { "text": "moved to transfer this appeal to the First Circuit.2 On July", "paragraph_id": "para_195" }, { "text": "7, 2025, we denied Insulet’s motion to transfer and re-", "paragraph_id": "para_196" }, { "text": "quested that the parties address our jurisdiction in their", "paragraph_id": "para_197" }, { "text": "merits briefs.", "paragraph_id": "para_198" }, { "text": "2 In the First Circuit, Insulet conditionally cross-ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_199" }, { "text": "pealed the district court’s reduction of damages if the deci-", "paragraph_id": "para_200" }, { "text": "sion in EOFlow’s appeal “narrowed or vacated the", "paragraph_id": "para_201" }, { "text": "injunction while leaving any portion of the liability verdict", "paragraph_id": "para_202" }, { "text": "in place.” Appellee’s Br. 70 n.26. As we reverse the liabil-", "paragraph_id": "para_203" }, { "text": "ity judgment, Insulet’s First Circuit appeal is moot.", "paragraph_id": "para_204" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 6 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_205" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 7", "paragraph_id": "para_206" }, { "text": "DISCUSSION", "paragraph_id": "para_207" }, { "text": "I", "paragraph_id": "para_208" }, { "text": "We first consider whether we have jurisdiction.", "paragraph_id": "para_209" }, { "text": "28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(1) grants this court exclusive jurisdic-", "paragraph_id": "para_210" }, { "text": "tion “in any civil action arising under . . . any act of Con-", "paragraph_id": "para_211" }, { "text": "gress relating to patents.” Our jurisdiction thus “depends", "paragraph_id": "para_212" }, { "text": "on whether the plaintiff’s complaint as amended raises pa-", "paragraph_id": "para_213" }, { "text": "tent law issues.” Chamberlain Grp., Inc. v. Skylink Techs.,", "paragraph_id": "para_214" }, { "text": "Inc., 381 F.3d 1178, 1189 (Fed. Cir. 2004). A dismissal", "paragraph_id": "para_215" }, { "text": "with prejudice of patent claims does not deprive our court", "paragraph_id": "para_216" }, { "text": "of jurisdiction, as dismissals with prejudice “are adjudica-", "paragraph_id": "para_217" }, { "text": "tions on the merits, and not constructive amendments to", "paragraph_id": "para_218" }, { "text": "the complaint.” Id. at 1189–90. Whether a dismissal is", "paragraph_id": "para_219" }, { "text": "with prejudice “is functional, rather than semantic.” Id.", "paragraph_id": "para_220" }, { "text": "at 1190.", "paragraph_id": "para_221" }, { "text": "Normally, an amendment to a complaint that dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_222" }, { "text": "misses patent claims without prejudice will divest this", "paragraph_id": "para_223" }, { "text": "court of its jurisdiction over the appeal. Krauser v. BioHo-", "paragraph_id": "para_224" }, { "text": "rizons, Inc., 753 F.3d 1263, 1269 (Fed. Cir. 2014); see also", "paragraph_id": "para_225" }, { "text": "Royal Canin U. S. A., Inc. v. Wullschleger, 604 U.S. 22, 34", "paragraph_id": "para_226" }, { "text": "(2025) (describing how “an amendment can wipe the juris-", "paragraph_id": "para_227" }, { "text": "dictional slate clean”). However, a dismissal nominally", "paragraph_id": "para_228" }, { "text": "without prejudice may effectively be a dismissal with prej-", "paragraph_id": "para_229" }, { "text": "udice if the statute of limitations has run. See Hilton Int’l", "paragraph_id": "para_230" }, { "text": "Co. v. Union de Trabajadores de la Industria Gastronom-", "paragraph_id": "para_231" }, { "text": "ica, 833 F.2d 10, 11 (1st Cir. 1987) (“The weight of author-", "paragraph_id": "para_232" }, { "text": "ity . . . is that dismissal . . . even though labelled ‘without", "paragraph_id": "para_233" }, { "text": "prejudice,’ is, in fact, with prejudice if the statute of limita-", "paragraph_id": "para_234" }, { "text": "tions has run.”); see also Chamberlain, 381 F.3d at 1190.", "paragraph_id": "para_235" }, { "text": "EOFlow argues that Insulet’s voluntary dismissal of its", "paragraph_id": "para_236" }, { "text": "patent infringement claims (and the amendment to its", "paragraph_id": "para_237" }, { "text": "complaint to delete the patent claims) functioned as a dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_238" }, { "text": "missal with prejudice because refiling of the claims would", "paragraph_id": "para_239" }, { "text": "be barred by the six-year statute of limitations, 35 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_240" }, { "text": "§ 286. In particular, EOFlow points out that the complaint", "paragraph_id": "para_241" }, { "text": "alleged infringement occurring in June 2018, when", "paragraph_id": "para_242" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 7 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_243" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.8", "paragraph_id": "para_244" }, { "text": "“EOFlow imported at least one device for display at the", "paragraph_id": "para_245" }, { "text": "2018 ADA meeting,” J.A. 1132 ¶ 134, and that this claim", "paragraph_id": "para_246" }, { "text": "was barred by the six-year limitations period at the time of", "paragraph_id": "para_247" }, { "text": "the dismissal, see 35 U.S.C. § 286. We agree with EOFlow.", "paragraph_id": "para_248" }, { "text": "Insulet is barred from “refiling of the same claim” of patent", "paragraph_id": "para_249" }, { "text": "infringement because the statute of limitations expired in", "paragraph_id": "para_250" }, { "text": "June 2024 with respect to acts of infringement in June", "paragraph_id": "para_251" }, { "text": "2018, and the dismissals occurred on January 3, 2025,", "paragraph_id": "para_252" }, { "text": "more than six years later. See Semtek Int’l Inc. v. Lockheed", "paragraph_id": "para_253" }, { "text": "Martin Corp., 531 U.S. 497, 506 (2001) (equating an “adju-", "paragraph_id": "para_254" }, { "text": "dication upon the merits” to a dismissal where refiling is", "paragraph_id": "para_255" }, { "text": "barred).", "paragraph_id": "para_256" }, { "text": "Insulet nonetheless argues that the dismissal instead", "paragraph_id": "para_257" }, { "text": "functions as a dismissal without prejudice. First, it argues", "paragraph_id": "para_258" }, { "text": "that section 286 does not bar Insulet from bringing suit re-", "paragraph_id": "para_259" }, { "text": "lated to acts of infringement committed more than six", "paragraph_id": "para_260" }, { "text": "years prior to filing suit; it merely prevents recovery for", "paragraph_id": "para_261" }, { "text": "such acts. For present purposes, this is a distinction with-", "paragraph_id": "para_262" }, { "text": "out a difference. A dismissal is with prejudice if the “dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_263" }, { "text": "missal[ ] altered the legal positions of [the parties] vis-à-vis", "paragraph_id": "para_264" }, { "text": "the dismissed claim.” Chamberlain, 381 F.3d at 1190. Un-", "paragraph_id": "para_265" }, { "text": "der either view of the statute, “the legal positions” of the", "paragraph_id": "para_266" }, { "text": "parties were altered by the dismissal.", "paragraph_id": "para_267" }, { "text": "Second, Insulet argues that in addition to the alleged", "paragraph_id": "para_268" }, { "text": "act of importation from 2018, it “alleged multiple addi-", "paragraph_id": "para_269" }, { "text": "tional acts of importation of the pirated device . . . occur-", "paragraph_id": "para_270" }, { "text": "ring in 2022 at the earliest.” Appellee’s Br. 29. But, as", "paragraph_id": "para_271" }, { "text": "both concurring opinions for the en banc court in Arellano", "paragraph_id": "para_272" }, { "text": "v. McDonough recognized, ongoing patent infringement", "paragraph_id": "para_273" }, { "text": "“‘comprises a “series of discrete infringing acts,” each of", "paragraph_id": "para_274" }, { "text": "which is a distinct harm giving rise to an independent", "paragraph_id": "para_275" }, { "text": "claim for relief that starts a new limitations period.’”", "paragraph_id": "para_276" }, { "text": "1 F.4th 1059, 1091 (Fed. Cir. 2021) (en banc) (Dyk, J., con-", "paragraph_id": "para_277" }, { "text": "curring) (quoting Arellano, 1 F.4th at 1070 (Chen, J., con-", "paragraph_id": "para_278" }, { "text": "curring) (quoting Petrella v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.,", "paragraph_id": "para_279" }, { "text": "571 U.S. 663, 671–72 (2014)) (emphasis in original)). Re-", "paragraph_id": "para_280" }, { "text": "gardless of whether Insulet may still file patent", "paragraph_id": "para_281" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 8 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_282" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 9", "paragraph_id": "para_283" }, { "text": "infringement claims for some alleged acts of infringement,", "paragraph_id": "para_284" }, { "text": "the statute of limitations had expired with respect to", "paragraph_id": "para_285" }, { "text": "EOFlow’s alleged June 2018 infringement.", "paragraph_id": "para_286" }, { "text": "Finally, Insulet argues that the cases establishing that", "paragraph_id": "para_287" }, { "text": "a dismissal is with prejudice when the statute of limita-", "paragraph_id": "para_288" }, { "text": "tions has run only apply to involuntary dismissals, not vol-", "paragraph_id": "para_289" }, { "text": "untary dismissals. But it is well-established that this is", "paragraph_id": "para_290" }, { "text": "also “clearly the rule if the dismissal is voluntary” and “any", "paragraph_id": "para_291" }, { "text": "other result . . . would be most unfair.” Hilton, 833 F.2d", "paragraph_id": "para_292" }, { "text": "at 11. Because Insulet could not refile suit predicated on", "paragraph_id": "para_293" }, { "text": "this alleged act of infringement, the dismissal of its patent", "paragraph_id": "para_294" }, { "text": "claims, at least in part, functioned as a dismissal with prej-", "paragraph_id": "para_295" }, { "text": "udice. We therefore have jurisdiction.", "paragraph_id": "para_296" }, { "text": "II", "paragraph_id": "para_297" }, { "text": "We next address the statute of limitations issue. We", "paragraph_id": "para_298" }, { "text": "review the district court’s denial of EOFlow’s JMOL motion", "paragraph_id": "para_299" }, { "text": "on statute-of-limitations grounds de novo. Proveris Sci.", "paragraph_id": "para_300" }, { "text": "Corp. v. Innovasystems, Inc., 536 F.3d 1256, 1266–67", "paragraph_id": "para_301" }, { "text": "(Fed. Cir. 2008) (citing Hochen v. Bobst Grp., Inc., 290 F.3d", "paragraph_id": "para_302" }, { "text": "446, 453 (1st Cir. 2002)).", "paragraph_id": "para_303" }, { "text": "The statute of limitations for federal trade secret mis-", "paragraph_id": "para_304" }, { "text": "appropriation claims runs “3 years after the date on which", "paragraph_id": "para_305" }, { "text": "the misappropriation with respect to which the action", "paragraph_id": "para_306" }, { "text": "would relate is discovered or by the exercise of reasonable", "paragraph_id": "para_307" }, { "text": "diligence should have been discovered. For purposes of this", "paragraph_id": "para_308" }, { "text": "subsection, a continuing misappropriation constitutes a", "paragraph_id": "para_309" }, { "text": "single claim of misappropriation.” 18 U.S.C. § 1836(d).", "paragraph_id": "para_310" }, { "text": "EOFlow argues that the so-called inquiry-notice stand-", "paragraph_id": "para_311" }, { "text": "ard applies and that inquiry-notice standard begins the", "paragraph_id": "para_312" }, { "text": "limitations period “‘when the first event occurs that would", "paragraph_id": "para_313" }, { "text": "prompt a reasonable person to inquire into a possible in-", "paragraph_id": "para_314" }, { "text": "jury at the hands of the defendant.’” Appellants’ Br. 28", "paragraph_id": "para_315" }, { "text": "(quoting Epstein v. C.R. Bard, Inc., 460 F.3d 183, 187–88", "paragraph_id": "para_316" }, { "text": "(1st Cir. 2006) (applying Massachusetts law)). Insulet ar-", "paragraph_id": "para_317" }, { "text": "gues that (1) inquiry notice is not the proper standard", "paragraph_id": "para_318" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 9 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_319" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.10", "paragraph_id": "para_320" }, { "text": "because, in Merck, the Supreme Court rejected inquiry no-", "paragraph_id": "para_321" }, { "text": "tice in construing the discovery standard under a similar", "paragraph_id": "para_322" }, { "text": "statute; and (2) the same discovery standard discussed in", "paragraph_id": "para_323" }, { "text": "Merck should apply to the DTSA. Under the Merck stand-", "paragraph_id": "para_324" }, { "text": "ard, the statute of limitations begins whenever a plaintiff", "paragraph_id": "para_325" }, { "text": "did discover or should have discovered the facts underlying", "paragraph_id": "para_326" }, { "text": "its cause of action, whereas under the inquiry-notice stand-", "paragraph_id": "para_327" }, { "text": "ard, the statute of limitations begins to run when the plain-", "paragraph_id": "para_328" }, { "text": "tiff or a reasonably diligent plaintiff would have begun an", "paragraph_id": "para_329" }, { "text": "investigation that would allow it to discover these facts.", "paragraph_id": "para_330" }, { "text": "Merck, 559 U.S. at 651–53.", "paragraph_id": "para_331" }, { "text": "As the district court concluded, the factual circum-", "paragraph_id": "para_332" }, { "text": "stances present here demonstrated that Insulet “plainly", "paragraph_id": "para_333" }, { "text": "had at least a cause for concern that defendants had en-", "paragraph_id": "para_334" }, { "text": "gaged in prohibited conduct by early 2019,” before the crit-", "paragraph_id": "para_335" }, { "text": "ical date of August 3, 2020 (three years before Insulet filed", "paragraph_id": "para_336" }, { "text": "its complaint) (“critical date”), J.A. 21, and that if the in-", "paragraph_id": "para_337" }, { "text": "quiry-notice standard applied, “then defendants would al-", "paragraph_id": "para_338" }, { "text": "most certainly be entitled to summary judgment on the", "paragraph_id": "para_339" }, { "text": "trade secret claim.” J.A. 46. Insulet disputes the district", "paragraph_id": "para_340" }, { "text": "court’s apparent conclusion that it was on inquiry notice", "paragraph_id": "para_341" }, { "text": "before the critical date. The parties also disagree as to", "paragraph_id": "para_342" }, { "text": "whether, applying the Merck standard, substantial evi-", "paragraph_id": "para_343" }, { "text": "dence supported the jury’s verdict.", "paragraph_id": "para_344" }, { "text": "We need not decide whether EOFlow’s proposed in-", "paragraph_id": "para_345" }, { "text": "quiry-notice standard or Insulet’s proposed Merck stand-", "paragraph_id": "para_346" }, { "text": "ard applies. We conclude that even under the more", "paragraph_id": "para_347" }, { "text": "demanding Merck standard, the statute of limitations ex-", "paragraph_id": "para_348" }, { "text": "pired before Insulet filed its complaint because the undis-", "paragraph_id": "para_349" }, { "text": "puted evidence shows that Insulet knew or should have", "paragraph_id": "para_350" }, { "text": "known before the critical date the facts it needed to suffi-", "paragraph_id": "para_351" }, { "text": "ciently plead a trade secret misappropriation claim against", "paragraph_id": "para_352" }, { "text": "EOFlow. In doing so, we do not, as the dissent suggests,", "paragraph_id": "para_353" }, { "text": "“conflate [our] application of the discovery rule with the in-", "paragraph_id": "para_354" }, { "text": "quiry-notice standard,” Dissent 1, but apply the more rig-", "paragraph_id": "para_355" }, { "text": "orous Merck standard.", "paragraph_id": "para_356" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 10 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_357" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 11", "paragraph_id": "para_358" }, { "text": "III", "paragraph_id": "para_359" }, { "text": "Before turning to the facts of the present case, we must", "paragraph_id": "para_360" }, { "text": "consider the applicable standard for pleading a claim for", "paragraph_id": "para_361" }, { "text": "trade secret misappropriation under the DTSA. EOFlow", "paragraph_id": "para_362" }, { "text": "argues that a claim for trade secret misappropriation un-", "paragraph_id": "para_363" }, { "text": "der the DTSA may be properly pled and proven through", "paragraph_id": "para_364" }, { "text": "factual allegations demonstrating the combination of the", "paragraph_id": "para_365" }, { "text": "defendants’ access to the trade secret and the similarity of", "paragraph_id": "para_366" }, { "text": "the trade secret to the defendant’s design.3 We agree.", "paragraph_id": "para_367" }, { "text": "Cases addressing the standards for pleading and proof", "paragraph_id": "para_368" }, { "text": "of misappropriation under the DTSA establish that, to", "paragraph_id": "para_369" }, { "text": "prove a trade secret misappropriation claim, “[a] plaintiff", "paragraph_id": "para_370" }, { "text": "may rely on circumstantial evidence showing access to the", "paragraph_id": "para_371" }, { "text": "trade secrets and similarities between those secrets and", "paragraph_id": "para_372" }, { "text": "the accused product.”4 Harbor Bus. Compliance Corp.", "paragraph_id": "para_373" }, { "text": "v. Firstbase.io, Inc., 152 F.4th 516, 530 (3d Cir. 2025) (ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_374" }, { "text": "plying the DTSA) (citing Oakwood Laboratories, Inc.", "paragraph_id": "para_375" }, { "text": "v. Thanoo, 999 F.3d 892, 912 n.19 (3d Cir. 2021) (applying", "paragraph_id": "para_376" }, { "text": "the DTSA)). Interpretations of the Uniform Trade Secret", "paragraph_id": "para_377" }, { "text": "Act (“UTSA”) also inform our interpretation of the DTSA.", "paragraph_id": "para_378" }, { "text": "When it enacted the DTSA, “Congress was aware of the role", "paragraph_id": "para_379" }, { "text": "and limitations of the UTSA as model legislation for the", "paragraph_id": "para_380" }, { "text": "states, and it recognized the DTSA and the UTSA as", "paragraph_id": "para_381" }, { "text": "3 Even in the absence of access and similarity, it may", "paragraph_id": "para_382" }, { "text": "be the case that the statute of limitations has expired on a", "paragraph_id": "para_383" }, { "text": "trade secret claim because the plaintiff would otherwise", "paragraph_id": "para_384" }, { "text": "have knowledge of facts that is sufficient to state a claim,", "paragraph_id": "para_385" }, { "text": "for example, direct knowledge of misappropriation. See", "paragraph_id": "para_386" }, { "text": "Oakwood Lab’ys v. Thanoo, 999 F.3d 892, 912 n.19 (3d Cir.", "paragraph_id": "para_387" }, { "text": "2021). That situation is not present here.", "paragraph_id": "para_388" }, { "text": "4 Contrary to the dissent, cases that address the", "paragraph_id": "para_389" }, { "text": "standard of proof for a trade secret misappropriation claim", "paragraph_id": "para_390" }, { "text": "rather than the pleading standard for a trade secret mis-", "paragraph_id": "para_391" }, { "text": "appropriation claim are directly relevant to defining the el-", "paragraph_id": "para_392" }, { "text": "ements of the cause of action.", "paragraph_id": "para_393" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 11 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_394" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.12", "paragraph_id": "para_395" }, { "text": "similar.” Attia v. Google LLC, 983 F.3d 420, 425 (9th Cir.", "paragraph_id": "para_396" }, { "text": "2020). One House report noted that the limitations period", "paragraph_id": "para_397" }, { "text": "of the DTSA is “identical to the limitations period of the", "paragraph_id": "para_398" }, { "text": "UTSA.” H.R. Rep. No. 114-529, at 13 (2016). Given that", "paragraph_id": "para_399" }, { "text": "the DTSA was enacted in light of the UTSA and, in rele-", "paragraph_id": "para_400" }, { "text": "vant respect, uses virtually identical language,5 it is appro-", "paragraph_id": "para_401" }, { "text": "priate to consider cases interpreting the UTSA (or the", "paragraph_id": "para_402" }, { "text": "UTSA’s statute of limitations provision) in interpreting the", "paragraph_id": "para_403" }, { "text": "DTSA. See George v. McDonough, 596 U.S. 740, 746 (2022)", "paragraph_id": "para_404" }, { "text": "(“Where Congress employs a term of art obviously trans-", "paragraph_id": "para_405" }, { "text": "planted from another legal source, it brings the old soil", "paragraph_id": "para_406" }, { "text": "with it.” (internal quotation marks omitted)).", "paragraph_id": "para_407" }, { "text": "Circuits analyzing the UTSA statute of limitations", "paragraph_id": "para_408" }, { "text": "have applied the same access-plus-similarity framework.", "paragraph_id": "para_409" }, { "text": "See Seatrax, Inc. v. Sonbeck Int’l, Inc., 200 F.3d 358, 365", "paragraph_id": "para_410" }, { "text": "(5th Cir. 2000) (applying Texas law); Heraeus Med. GmbH", "paragraph_id": "para_411" }, { "text": "v. Esschem, Inc., 927 F.3d 727, 735–36 (3d Cir. 2019) (ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_412" }, { "text": "plying Pennsylvania law); Sokol Crystal Prods., Inc.", "paragraph_id": "para_413" }, { "text": "v. DSC Commc’ns Corp., 15 F.3d 1427, 1430 (7th Cir. 1994)", "paragraph_id": "para_414" }, { "text": "(applying Wisconsin law).6 For example, in Seatrax, a", "paragraph_id": "para_415" }, { "text": "5 The DTSA differs from the UTSA statute of limita-", "paragraph_id": "para_416" }, { "text": "tions in that a suit must be brought within 3 years after", "paragraph_id": "para_417" }, { "text": "“the misappropriation with respect to which the action", "paragraph_id": "para_418" }, { "text": "would relate is discovered or by the exercise of reasonable", "paragraph_id": "para_419" }, { "text": "diligence should have been discovered.” 18 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_420" }, { "text": "§ 1836(d) (emphasis added). The underscored language", "paragraph_id": "para_421" }, { "text": "does not appear in the UTSA.", "paragraph_id": "para_422" }, { "text": "6 The dissent suggests that Sokol somehow “under-", "paragraph_id": "para_423" }, { "text": "mines” the access-plus-similarity framework. Dissent 5.", "paragraph_id": "para_424" }, { "text": "But the reasoning of Sokol is consistent with and supports", "paragraph_id": "para_425" }, { "text": "this standard. There, “the jury apparently inferred from", "paragraph_id": "para_426" }, { "text": "the fact that DSC [the defendant] had access to Sokol’s [the", "paragraph_id": "para_427" }, { "text": "plaintiff’s] confidential information and from the similarity", "paragraph_id": "para_428" }, { "text": "between the [plaintiff’s and defendant’s] devices” that mis-", "paragraph_id": "para_429" }, { "text": "appropriation had occurred. Sokol, 15 F.3d at 1429; see", "paragraph_id": "para_430" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 12 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_431" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 13", "paragraph_id": "para_432" }, { "text": "crane manufacturer knew that individuals who were", "paragraph_id": "para_433" }, { "text": "“given access to technical information, manuals, service", "paragraph_id": "para_434" }, { "text": "bulletins, computer software and . . . manufacturer draw-", "paragraph_id": "para_435" }, { "text": "ings” formed another company to sell crane parts that were", "paragraph_id": "para_436" }, { "text": "similar to the trade-secret owner’s designs. Seatrax,", "paragraph_id": "para_437" }, { "text": "200 F.3d at 362–63. The Fifth Circuit held that these", "paragraph_id": "para_438" }, { "text": "events “put [the trade secret owner] on notice of possible", "paragraph_id": "para_439" }, { "text": "misappropriation,” id. at 365, and therefore the trade se-", "paragraph_id": "para_440" }, { "text": "cret owner’s claim was time-barred as a matter of law be-", "paragraph_id": "para_441" }, { "text": "cause it brought suit more than “three years after the", "paragraph_id": "para_442" }, { "text": "misappropriation[ ] is discovered or by the exercise of due", "paragraph_id": "para_443" }, { "text": "diligence should have been discovered,” id. at 364 (empha-", "paragraph_id": "para_444" }, { "text": "sis removed) (quoting Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann.", "paragraph_id": "para_445" }, { "text": "§ 16.010(a)). Further, our court has held that if a plaintiff", "paragraph_id": "para_446" }, { "text": "also id. at 1430 (“Sokol did not know that DSC was misus-", "paragraph_id": "para_447" }, { "text": "ing (and therefore misappropriating) its trade secret until", "paragraph_id": "para_448" }, { "text": "DSC sold an ECS–3 system (containing a VCXO that re-", "paragraph_id": "para_449" }, { "text": "sembled Sokol’s) to a third party.”); id. at 1432 (holding", "paragraph_id": "para_450" }, { "text": "that “once the jury concluded that (1) DSC had access to", "paragraph_id": "para_451" }, { "text": "Sokol’s trade secrets, and (2) DSC’s product was similar to", "paragraph_id": "para_452" }, { "text": "Sokol’s, it was entirely reasonable for it to infer that DSC", "paragraph_id": "para_453" }, { "text": "used Sokol’s trade secret”).", "paragraph_id": "para_454" }, { "text": "The question was whether the plaintiff had knowledge", "paragraph_id": "para_455" }, { "text": "that a similar device was being sold (and thus misappro-", "paragraph_id": "para_456" }, { "text": "priated) before the critical date. While the defendant sent", "paragraph_id": "para_457" }, { "text": "sample components (VCXO boards) to the plaintiff before", "paragraph_id": "para_458" }, { "text": "the critical date, the plaintiff did not then know that the", "paragraph_id": "para_459" }, { "text": "defendant would sell a similar device containing the VCXO", "paragraph_id": "para_460" }, { "text": "boards, i.e., it did not “know the use to which these boards", "paragraph_id": "para_461" }, { "text": "were going to be put.” Id. at 1430. The plaintiff did not", "paragraph_id": "para_462" }, { "text": "have that knowledge of misappropriation until it learned", "paragraph_id": "para_463" }, { "text": "(after the critical date) that the defendant “sold [a similar", "paragraph_id": "para_464" }, { "text": "product] (containing a VCXO that resembled Sokol’s) to a", "paragraph_id": "para_465" }, { "text": "third party.” Id. Sokol directly supports the access-plus-", "paragraph_id": "para_466" }, { "text": "similarity framework for pleading and proving trade secret", "paragraph_id": "para_467" }, { "text": "misappropriation claims.", "paragraph_id": "para_468" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 13 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_469" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.14", "paragraph_id": "para_470" }, { "text": "has knowledge that (1) the alleged misappropriator has ac-", "paragraph_id": "para_471" }, { "text": "cess to the alleged trade secrets through a former employee", "paragraph_id": "para_472" }, { "text": "of the trade secret owner and (2) there is similarity be-", "paragraph_id": "para_473" }, { "text": "tween the trade secrets and the alleged misappropriator’s", "paragraph_id": "para_474" }, { "text": "competing product, then the plaintiff possesses sufficient", "paragraph_id": "para_475" }, { "text": "facts to state a claim for trade secret misappropriation. See", "paragraph_id": "para_476" }, { "text": "Leggett & Platt, Inc. v. Hickory Springs Mfg. Co., 285 F.3d", "paragraph_id": "para_477" }, { "text": "1353, 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (applying Illinois law).", "paragraph_id": "para_478" }, { "text": "Here, in its brief, Insulet argued that the access-plus-", "paragraph_id": "para_479" }, { "text": "similarity test does not apply and that the limitations pe-", "paragraph_id": "para_480" }, { "text": "riod began to run only when it acquired detailed and spe-", "paragraph_id": "para_481" }, { "text": "cific knowledge of the misappropriation. For example, it", "paragraph_id": "para_482" }, { "text": "argued that it could not ascertain the “nominal dimen-", "paragraph_id": "para_483" }, { "text": "sions” of the designs and prototypes of the EOPatch from", "paragraph_id": "para_484" }, { "text": "EOFlow’s displays at trade shows, presentations to Insulet,", "paragraph_id": "para_485" }, { "text": "and public disclosures. Dkt. No. 60 at 1 (citing J.A. 21035).", "paragraph_id": "para_486" }, { "text": "In this respect, Insulet is mistaken. Because the standard", "paragraph_id": "para_487" }, { "text": "is substantial similarity, detailed knowledge of all of the", "paragraph_id": "para_488" }, { "text": "relevant facts underlying the misappropriation is not re-", "paragraph_id": "para_489" }, { "text": "quired. Knowledge of such details as the nominal dimen-", "paragraph_id": "para_490" }, { "text": "sions of EOPatch 2 is unnecessary to plead a trade secret", "paragraph_id": "para_491" }, { "text": "misappropriation claim. Significantly, despite the argu-", "paragraph_id": "para_492" }, { "text": "ments in its brief, Insulet agreed at oral argument that", "paragraph_id": "para_493" }, { "text": "knowledge of facts demonstrating access and similarity are", "paragraph_id": "para_494" }, { "text": "sufficient to plead a trade secret misappropriation claim.", "paragraph_id": "para_495" }, { "text": "Oral Arg. at 28:23-29:18. The relevant question is ulti-", "paragraph_id": "para_496" }, { "text": "mately whether Insulet had sufficient knowledge to state a", "paragraph_id": "para_497" }, { "text": "claim for trade secret misappropriation before the critical", "paragraph_id": "para_498" }, { "text": "date, not whether it had sufficient evidence to prove mis-", "paragraph_id": "para_499" }, { "text": "appropriation of its trade secrets.", "paragraph_id": "para_500" }, { "text": "IV", "paragraph_id": "para_501" }, { "text": "The next question is whether, in order to trigger the", "paragraph_id": "para_502" }, { "text": "running of the statute of limitations, the plaintiff must", "paragraph_id": "para_503" }, { "text": "have discovered (or should have discovered) the misappro-", "paragraph_id": "para_504" }, { "text": "priation of each alleged trade secret or if it is sufficient that", "paragraph_id": "para_505" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 14 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_506" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 15", "paragraph_id": "para_507" }, { "text": "it discovered (or should have discovered) misappropriation", "paragraph_id": "para_508" }, { "text": "of a single trade secret.", "paragraph_id": "para_509" }, { "text": "Over EOFlow’s objection, the jury was instructed that", "paragraph_id": "para_510" }, { "text": "it must “separately consider the statute of limitations de-", "paragraph_id": "para_511" }, { "text": "fense as to each of [the] trade secrets,” J.A. 21392; see also", "paragraph_id": "para_512" }, { "text": "J.A.19977–78, J.A. 130, 6:1–12, J.A. 184, 60:16–22. We", "paragraph_id": "para_513" }, { "text": "have recognized, however, that whether a party is entitled", "paragraph_id": "para_514" }, { "text": "to JMOL “does not depend on how the jury was instructed.”", "paragraph_id": "para_515" }, { "text": "Harris Corp. v. Ericsson Inc., 417 F.3d 1241, 1252", "paragraph_id": "para_516" }, { "text": "(Fed. Cir. 2005). The inquiry is whether “under the con-", "paragraph_id": "para_517" }, { "text": "trolling law,” the defendant is entitled to JMOL. Fed. R.", "paragraph_id": "para_518" }, { "text": "Civ. Proc. 50(a)(1)(B).", "paragraph_id": "para_519" }, { "text": "To resolve this dispute, we must interpret the DTSA’s", "paragraph_id": "para_520" }, { "text": "provision that “[f]or purposes of this subsection [the statute", "paragraph_id": "para_521" }, { "text": "of limitations], a continuing misappropriation constitutes", "paragraph_id": "para_522" }, { "text": "a single claim of misappropriation.” 18 U.S.C. § 1836(d).", "paragraph_id": "para_523" }, { "text": "This provision is essentially copied from a provision in the", "paragraph_id": "para_524" }, { "text": "UTSA statute of limitations—“[f]or the purposes of this sec-", "paragraph_id": "para_525" }, { "text": "tion, a continuing misappropriation constitutes a single", "paragraph_id": "para_526" }, { "text": "claim.” Uniform Trade Secrets Act § 6 (amended 1985)", "paragraph_id": "para_527" }, { "text": "(Nat’l Conf. of Comm’rs on Unif. State L. 1985) (“1985", "paragraph_id": "para_528" }, { "text": "UTSA”). While there is no First Circuit authority on this", "paragraph_id": "para_529" }, { "text": "issue, given the relevant provisions of the DTSA and the", "paragraph_id": "para_530" }, { "text": "UTSA are substantively identical, we consider the history", "paragraph_id": "para_531" }, { "text": "of the UTSA and cases decided under the UTSA.", "paragraph_id": "para_532" }, { "text": "Before the UTSA, there was a “conflict of authority as", "paragraph_id": "para_533" }, { "text": "to whether trade secret misappropriation is a continuing", "paragraph_id": "para_534" }, { "text": "wrong.” 1985 UTSA, § 6 cmt. Some courts, most notably", "paragraph_id": "para_535" }, { "text": "the D.C. Circuit in Underwater Storage, Inc. v. U.S. Rubber", "paragraph_id": "para_536" }, { "text": "Co., 371 F.2d 950 (D.C. Cir. 1966), concluded that each act", "paragraph_id": "para_537" }, { "text": "of trade secret misappropriation is a distinct wrong with a", "paragraph_id": "para_538" }, { "text": "separate limitations period because trade secrets are “val-", "paragraph_id": "para_539" }, { "text": "uable property” and, as such, “a cause of action for each", "paragraph_id": "para_540" }, { "text": "invasion of the plaintiff's interest arose at the time of that", "paragraph_id": "para_541" }, { "text": "invasion.” 371 F.2d at 954–55. “Underlying this theory is", "paragraph_id": "para_542" }, { "text": "the concept that a trade secret is in the nature of property,", "paragraph_id": "para_543" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 15 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_544" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.16", "paragraph_id": "para_545" }, { "text": "which is damaged or destroyed by the adverse use.” Mon-", "paragraph_id": "para_546" }, { "text": "olith Portland Midwest Co. v. Kaiser Aluminum & Chem.", "paragraph_id": "para_547" }, { "text": "Corp., 407 F.2d 288, 293 (9th Cir. 1969) (discussing Under-", "paragraph_id": "para_548" }, { "text": "water Storage). Other courts, like the Ninth Circuit in", "paragraph_id": "para_549" }, { "text": "Monolith, did not “treat trade secrets as if they were prop-", "paragraph_id": "para_550" }, { "text": "erty,” and instead determined that the protected interest", "paragraph_id": "para_551" }, { "text": "in a trade secret misappropriation claim was “the relation-", "paragraph_id": "para_552" }, { "text": "ship between the parties at the time the secret is disclosed.”", "paragraph_id": "para_553" }, { "text": "Monolith, 407 F.2d at 293. Because “[t]he fabric of the re-", "paragraph_id": "para_554" }, { "text": "lationship once rent is not torn anew with each added use", "paragraph_id": "para_555" }, { "text": "or disclosure, although the damage suffered may thereby", "paragraph_id": "para_556" }, { "text": "be aggravated,” as the court in Monolith reasoned, “[t]he", "paragraph_id": "para_557" }, { "text": "cause of action arises but once” and is subject to a single", "paragraph_id": "para_558" }, { "text": "limitations period. Id.", "paragraph_id": "para_559" }, { "text": "The comments to the UTSA make clear that the", "paragraph_id": "para_560" }, { "text": "UTSA’s statute of limitations specifically follows Monolith", "paragraph_id": "para_561" }, { "text": "and “rejects a continuing wrong approach.” 1985 UTSA,", "paragraph_id": "para_562" }, { "text": "§ 6 cmt. Likewise, under the DTSA statute of limitations,", "paragraph_id": "para_563" }, { "text": "“a continuing misappropriation constitutes a single claim", "paragraph_id": "para_564" }, { "text": "of misappropriation.” 18 U.S.C. § 1836(d). This means", "paragraph_id": "para_565" }, { "text": "that “the first discovered (or discoverable) misappropria-", "paragraph_id": "para_566" }, { "text": "tion of a trade secret commences the limitation period,", "paragraph_id": "para_567" }, { "text": "placing the focus . . . on the breach of the relationship be-", "paragraph_id": "para_568" }, { "text": "tween the parties at the time the secret is disclosed.” Kehoe", "paragraph_id": "para_569" }, { "text": "Component Sales Inc. v. Best Lighting Prods., Inc.,", "paragraph_id": "para_570" }, { "text": "796 F.3d 576, 583 (6th Cir. 2015) (omission in original) (ci-", "paragraph_id": "para_571" }, { "text": "tation omitted) (applying Ohio law).", "paragraph_id": "para_572" }, { "text": "A variety of cases in California state and federal courts", "paragraph_id": "para_573" }, { "text": "have interpreted this provision to mean that “[w]hen a", "paragraph_id": "para_574" }, { "text": "plaintiff brings suit against an individual defendant for", "paragraph_id": "para_575" }, { "text": "separate misappropriations of related trade secrets, or for", "paragraph_id": "para_576" }, { "text": "multiple misappropriations of a single secret, the date of", "paragraph_id": "para_577" }, { "text": "accrual is the date of the initial misappropriation.” HiRel", "paragraph_id": "para_578" }, { "text": "Connectors, Inc. v. United States, 465 F. Supp. 2d 984, 988", "paragraph_id": "para_579" }, { "text": "(C.D. Cal. 2005) (applying California law). California’s ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_580" }, { "text": "proach, which is the most well-developed, appears to have", "paragraph_id": "para_581" }, { "text": "originated in federal district court cases, most notably in", "paragraph_id": "para_582" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 16 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_583" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 17", "paragraph_id": "para_584" }, { "text": "Intermedics, Inc. v. Ventritex, Inc., 822 F. Supp. 634 (N.D.", "paragraph_id": "para_585" }, { "text": "Cal. 1993) (applying California law). The court in Inter-", "paragraph_id": "para_586" }, { "text": "medics held that “when the statute of limitations begins to", "paragraph_id": "para_587" }, { "text": "run on some of a plaintiff’s trade secret claims against", "paragraph_id": "para_588" }, { "text": "given defendants, the statute also begins to run at that", "paragraph_id": "para_589" }, { "text": "same time as to other trade secret claims against those", "paragraph_id": "para_590" }, { "text": "same defendants . . . at least when the plaintiff shared all", "paragraph_id": "para_591" }, { "text": "the trade secrets with defendants during the same period", "paragraph_id": "para_592" }, { "text": "and in connection with the same relationships and when", "paragraph_id": "para_593" }, { "text": "the trade secrets concern related matter.” 822 F. Supp.", "paragraph_id": "para_594" }, { "text": "at 657; see also Forcier v. Microsoft Corp., 123 F. Supp. 2d", "paragraph_id": "para_595" }, { "text": "520, 525–26 (N.D. Cal. 2000) (applying California law);", "paragraph_id": "para_596" }, { "text": "HiRel, 465 F.Supp.2d at 988. This approach “impose[s] on", "paragraph_id": "para_597" }, { "text": "plaintiffs a responsibility to take prompt and assertive cor-", "paragraph_id": "para_598" }, { "text": "rective action with respect to all of plaintiffs’ interests", "paragraph_id": "para_599" }, { "text": "whenever plaintiffs detect a fracture in a once confidential", "paragraph_id": "para_600" }, { "text": "relationship.” Intermedics, 822 F. Supp. at 654.", "paragraph_id": "para_601" }, { "text": "California state appellate courts have since approved", "paragraph_id": "para_602" }, { "text": "the Intermedics approach to determine if related trade se-", "paragraph_id": "para_603" }, { "text": "crets relate to the same claim of misappropriation, most ex-", "paragraph_id": "para_604" }, { "text": "plicitly in MGA Ent., Inc. v. Mattel, Inc., 254 Cal. Rptr. 3d", "paragraph_id": "para_605" }, { "text": "314 (Cal. Ct. App. 2019). There, the court rejected the", "paragraph_id": "para_606" }, { "text": "plaintiff’s attempt to limit the accrual of its trade secrets", "paragraph_id": "para_607" }, { "text": "claim to two specific trade secrets that were displayed at a", "paragraph_id": "para_608" }, { "text": "particular toy fair, which the court described as a “compart-", "paragraph_id": "para_609" }, { "text": "mentalization of its suspicion of wrongdoing.” MGA,", "paragraph_id": "para_610" }, { "text": "254 Cal. Rptr. 3d at 321. It concluded that the statute of", "paragraph_id": "para_611" }, { "text": "limitations had run against all 114 of plaintiff’s alleged", "paragraph_id": "para_612" }, { "text": "misappropriations, which involved multiple trade secrets,", "paragraph_id": "para_613" }, { "text": "once the plaintiff had notice of an initial misappropriation,", "paragraph_id": "para_614" }, { "text": "as taking a different approach would allow the plaintiff to", "paragraph_id": "para_615" }, { "text": "“don blinders to avoid the accrual of the statute of limita-", "paragraph_id": "para_616" }, { "text": "tion” for related acts of misappropriation. Id. at 320–21;", "paragraph_id": "para_617" }, { "text": "see also Glue-Fold, Inc. v. Slautterback Corp., 98 Cal.", "paragraph_id": "para_618" }, { "text": "Rptr. 2d 661, 666 (Cal. Ct. App. 2000) (applying California", "paragraph_id": "para_619" }, { "text": "law) (“We agree with the federal court which stated that", "paragraph_id": "para_620" }, { "text": "‘California law assumes that once a plaintiff knows or", "paragraph_id": "para_621" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 17 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_622" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.18", "paragraph_id": "para_623" }, { "text": "should know that a particular defendant cannot be trusted", "paragraph_id": "para_624" }, { "text": "with one secret, it is unreasonable for that plaintiff simply", "paragraph_id": "para_625" }, { "text": "to assume that that defendant can be trusted to protect", "paragraph_id": "para_626" }, { "text": "other secrets.’” (quoting Intermedics, 822 F. Supp. at 654)).", "paragraph_id": "para_627" }, { "text": "The Sixth Circuit’s opinion in B&P Littleford, LLC", "paragraph_id": "para_628" }, { "text": "v. Prescott Machinery, LLC, No. 20-1449, 2021 WL", "paragraph_id": "para_629" }, { "text": "3732313 (6th Cir. 2021) (nonprecedential), is the only au-", "paragraph_id": "para_630" }, { "text": "thority that Insulet cites in support of its trade-secret-by-", "paragraph_id": "para_631" }, { "text": "trade-secret statute of limitations analysis. But that case", "paragraph_id": "para_632" }, { "text": "recognizes the same “controlling principle consistent with", "paragraph_id": "para_633" }, { "text": "the purposes of the statutory accrual rule” as Intermedics.", "paragraph_id": "para_634" }, { "text": "B&P Littleford, 2021 WL 3732313, at *6 (quoting Gognat", "paragraph_id": "para_635" }, { "text": "v. Ellsworth, 259 P.3d 497, 502 (Colo. 2011) (applying Col-", "paragraph_id": "para_636" }, { "text": "orado law)). There, to discern whether trade secrets should", "paragraph_id": "para_637" }, { "text": "be subject to separate statute of limitations analyses, the", "paragraph_id": "para_638" }, { "text": "Sixth Circuit described how a court “might ask whether the", "paragraph_id": "para_639" }, { "text": "same relationship has been ruptured in the same way,", "paragraph_id": "para_640" }, { "text": "looking, for example, at who made the disclosure, to whom", "paragraph_id": "para_641" }, { "text": "the disclosure was made, and the nature, timing, and rea-", "paragraph_id": "para_642" }, { "text": "sons for the disclosure.” Id. (citing Gognat, 259 P.3d", "paragraph_id": "para_643" }, { "text": "at 503). While B&P Littleford characterized the inquiry to", "paragraph_id": "para_644" }, { "text": "be whether the alleged trade secrets should be considered", "paragraph_id": "para_645" }, { "text": "to be a single trade secret for limitations purposes, this is", "paragraph_id": "para_646" }, { "text": "the substantially same test that the Intermedics court ar-", "paragraph_id": "para_647" }, { "text": "ticulated. As such, there is no material difference in the", "paragraph_id": "para_648" }, { "text": "controlling law on this issue that is advanced by either", "paragraph_id": "para_649" }, { "text": "party.", "paragraph_id": "para_650" }, { "text": "Applying the Ohio Uniform Trade Secrets Act’s discov-", "paragraph_id": "para_651" }, { "text": "ery rule in Maatuk v. Emerson Electric, Inc., 781 F. App’x", "paragraph_id": "para_652" }, { "text": "1002, 1005 (Fed. Cir. 2019) (nonprecedential), we reached", "paragraph_id": "para_653" }, { "text": "a similar conclusion. There, the plaintiff unsuccessfully", "paragraph_id": "para_654" }, { "text": "brought a trade secret misappropriation suit against cer-", "paragraph_id": "para_655" }, { "text": "tain parties stemming from an alleged breach of a confiden-", "paragraph_id": "para_656" }, { "text": "tial relationship between the plaintiff and those parties.", "paragraph_id": "para_657" }, { "text": "Maatuk, 781 F. App’x at 1003–04. Over a decade later, the", "paragraph_id": "para_658" }, { "text": "plaintiff again alleged trade secret misappropriation stem-", "paragraph_id": "para_659" }, { "text": "ming from the same breach of confidential relationship, but", "paragraph_id": "para_660" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 18 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_661" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 19", "paragraph_id": "para_662" }, { "text": "this time asserted that different trade secrets had been", "paragraph_id": "para_663" }, { "text": "misappropriated. Id. at 1004. We agreed with the district", "paragraph_id": "para_664" }, { "text": "court that the plaintiff’s misappropriation claim was time-", "paragraph_id": "para_665" }, { "text": "barred because the plaintiff was “aware of a breach of a", "paragraph_id": "para_666" }, { "text": "confidential relationship” when he filed his original lawsuit", "paragraph_id": "para_667" }, { "text": "sixteen years prior. Id. at 1005. Differentiating Amalga-", "paragraph_id": "para_668" }, { "text": "mated Indus. Ltd. v. Tressa, Inc., 69 F. App’x 255 (6th Cir.", "paragraph_id": "para_669" }, { "text": "2003) (nonprecedential), we held that “where a party al-", "paragraph_id": "para_670" }, { "text": "leges misappropriation of different trade secrets years af-", "paragraph_id": "para_671" }, { "text": "ter discovery of the breach of confidentiality, the claim is", "paragraph_id": "para_672" }, { "text": "barred by the statute of limitations . . . .” Id.", "paragraph_id": "para_673" }, { "text": "Here, each of the factors outlined in Intermedics and", "paragraph_id": "para_674" }, { "text": "B&P Littleford points toward a single accrual date for In-", "paragraph_id": "para_675" }, { "text": "sulet’s trade secret misappropriation claim against", "paragraph_id": "para_676" }, { "text": "EOFlow. While serving as EOFlow’s consultant between", "paragraph_id": "para_677" }, { "text": "March and May 2018, Mr. DiIanni, in a single course of al-", "paragraph_id": "para_678" }, { "text": "leged misappropriation, disclosed each asserted trade se-", "paragraph_id": "para_679" }, { "text": "cret to EOFlow for the purpose of designing an improved", "paragraph_id": "para_680" }, { "text": "EOPatch 2. EOFlow’s alleged misappropriations of the as-", "paragraph_id": "para_681" }, { "text": "serted trade secrets thus constitute a single claim of mis-", "paragraph_id": "para_682" }, { "text": "appropriation and, therefore, are subject to the same", "paragraph_id": "para_683" }, { "text": "statute of limitations analysis. See Gognat, 259 P.3d", "paragraph_id": "para_684" }, { "text": "at 504 (concluding that a body of information that was", "paragraph_id": "para_685" }, { "text": "“shared with the same person, in substantially the same", "paragraph_id": "para_686" }, { "text": "time period, as part of the same joint commercial venture”", "paragraph_id": "para_687" }, { "text": "was subject to a single statute of limitations analysis).", "paragraph_id": "para_688" }, { "text": "V", "paragraph_id": "para_689" }, { "text": "With these principles in mind, we must determine", "paragraph_id": "para_690" }, { "text": "whether, under the access-plus-similarity standard and", "paragraph_id": "para_691" }, { "text": "Merck discovery standard, Insulet knew or should have", "paragraph_id": "para_692" }, { "text": "known of facts sufficient to plead access and similarity as", "paragraph_id": "para_693" }, { "text": "to one of the asserted trade secrets before the critical date.", "paragraph_id": "para_694" }, { "text": "This is a legal question with underlying fact issues. See", "paragraph_id": "para_695" }, { "text": "Merck, 559 U.S. at 649, 652; see also Epstein, 460 F.3d", "paragraph_id": "para_696" }, { "text": "at 188–89 (dismissing trade secret misappropriation claim", "paragraph_id": "para_697" }, { "text": "on motion to dismiss as time-barred when parties only", "paragraph_id": "para_698" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 19 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_699" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.20", "paragraph_id": "para_700" }, { "text": "disputed “legal significance” of allegations); Skwira", "paragraph_id": "para_701" }, { "text": "v. United States, 344 F.3d 64, 72 (1st Cir. 2003) (explaining", "paragraph_id": "para_702" }, { "text": "that when parties “only disagree over the legal significance", "paragraph_id": "para_703" }, { "text": "of [facts] . . . the parties’ dispute ‘focuses on pure (or nearly", "paragraph_id": "para_704" }, { "text": "pure) questions of law [and] engenders de novo review’”", "paragraph_id": "para_705" }, { "text": "(quoting Gonzalez v. United States, 284 F.3d 281, 287", "paragraph_id": "para_706" }, { "text": "(1st Cir. 2002)).", "paragraph_id": "para_707" }, { "text": "The district court instructed the jury that, once", "paragraph_id": "para_708" }, { "text": "EOFlow proved misappropriation first occurred outside the", "paragraph_id": "para_709" }, { "text": "limitations period, Insulet had the burden of proof to estab-", "paragraph_id": "para_710" }, { "text": "lish that it did not discover, or by the exercise of reasonable", "paragraph_id": "para_711" }, { "text": "diligence could not discover, the misappropriation before", "paragraph_id": "para_712" }, { "text": "the critical date. J.A. 21392. Neither party challenges this", "paragraph_id": "para_713" }, { "text": "instruction on appeal, or that the first misappropriation of", "paragraph_id": "para_714" }, { "text": "the CAD files, soft cannula, and occlusion-detection algo-", "paragraph_id": "para_715" }, { "text": "rithm trade secrets occurred outside the limitations pe-", "paragraph_id": "para_716" }, { "text": "riod,7 so we proceed with the assumption that Insulet has", "paragraph_id": "para_717" }, { "text": "the burden of proof on the discovery issue.", "paragraph_id": "para_718" }, { "text": "EOFlow points to Insulet’s August 3, 2023, complaint", "paragraph_id": "para_719" }, { "text": "and argues that it “relied heavily on the same combination", "paragraph_id": "para_720" }, { "text": "of access plus similarity that was fully available to Insulet”", "paragraph_id": "para_721" }, { "text": "before the critical date. Appellants’ Br. 36 (citing J.A. 306–", "paragraph_id": "para_722" }, { "text": "367 ¶¶ 6–8, 40–42). We agree that we may appropriately", "paragraph_id": "para_723" }, { "text": "consider the allegations in Insulet’s original complaint to", "paragraph_id": "para_724" }, { "text": "determine what knowledge was necessary to sufficiently al-", "paragraph_id": "para_725" }, { "text": "lege trade secret misappropriation.", "paragraph_id": "para_726" }, { "text": "A. Access to Trade Secrets", "paragraph_id": "para_727" }, { "text": "As to access, Insulet’s complaint alleged that its former", "paragraph_id": "para_728" }, { "text": "employee Steve DiIanni was “entrusted with details of", "paragraph_id": "para_729" }, { "text": "7 As discussed below, since we conclude that the", "paragraph_id": "para_730" }, { "text": "CAD-files trade secret is part of the design history file, we", "paragraph_id": "para_731" }, { "text": "agree with EOFlow that it proved that the first misappro-", "paragraph_id": "para_732" }, { "text": "priation of the design history file occurred outside the lim-", "paragraph_id": "para_733" }, { "text": "itations period.", "paragraph_id": "para_734" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 20 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_735" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 21", "paragraph_id": "para_736" }, { "text": "every aspect of the research and development efforts” at", "paragraph_id": "para_737" }, { "text": "Insulet. J.A. 321 ¶ 40. According to Insulet, Mr. DiIanni", "paragraph_id": "para_738" }, { "text": "“was in possession of detailed technical information about", "paragraph_id": "para_739" }, { "text": "Insulet’s Omnipod product, including but not limited to", "paragraph_id": "para_740" }, { "text": "product specifications, material compositions, coating ma-", "paragraph_id": "para_741" }, { "text": "terials, plating specifications, operational software re-", "paragraph_id": "para_742" }, { "text": "quirements and details, product functional requirements,", "paragraph_id": "para_743" }, { "text": "dimensional tolerances, drive stroke and force require-", "paragraph_id": "para_744" }, { "text": "ments, and other product and manufacturing details” dur-", "paragraph_id": "para_745" }, { "text": "ing his employment. J.A. 322 ¶ 41.", "paragraph_id": "para_746" }, { "text": "By March 15, 2019, which was more than three years", "paragraph_id": "para_747" }, { "text": "before Insulet filed its original complaint on August 3,", "paragraph_id": "para_748" }, { "text": "2023, internal Insulet emails showed that Insulet knew", "paragraph_id": "para_749" }, { "text": "Mr. DiIanni worked with EOFlow on the EOPatch 2. In", "paragraph_id": "para_750" }, { "text": "those emails, Dave Nazzaro, Insulet’s Director of Mechan-", "paragraph_id": "para_751" }, { "text": "ical and Materials COE, told Insulet’s Executive Vice Pres-", "paragraph_id": "para_752" }, { "text": "ident Eric Benjamin that “[t]he people running [EOFlow],", "paragraph_id": "para_753" }, { "text": "Luis M[alave], Ian W[elsford], and their designer Steve", "paragraph_id": "para_754" }, { "text": "D[iIanni] are past Insulet folks.” J.A. 43524. The undis-", "paragraph_id": "para_755" }, { "text": "puted facts thus demonstrate Insulet, by March 2019, had", "paragraph_id": "para_756" }, { "text": "sufficient knowledge to allege that EOFlow hired a former", "paragraph_id": "para_757" }, { "text": "employee to work on the EOPatch 2 who had knowledge of", "paragraph_id": "para_758" }, { "text": "and access to Insulet’s trade secrets, which satisfies the ac-", "paragraph_id": "para_759" }, { "text": "cess prong as a matter of law.", "paragraph_id": "para_760" }, { "text": "This case is similar to Seatrax, where the Fifth Circuit", "paragraph_id": "para_761" }, { "text": "held that a trade secret owner’s knowledge that a former", "paragraph_id": "para_762" }, { "text": "employee like Mr. DiIanni worked for the alleged misap-", "paragraph_id": "para_763" }, { "text": "propriator puts the trade secret owner on notice of access", "paragraph_id": "para_764" }, { "text": "as a matter of law, as “‘it is not unexpected that a former", "paragraph_id": "para_765" }, { "text": "employee will go to work for a competitor and that the com-", "paragraph_id": "para_766" }, { "text": "petitor might thereby acquire trade secrets.’” Seatrax,", "paragraph_id": "para_767" }, { "text": "200 F.3d at 365 (quoting Comput. Assocs. Int’l, Inc. v. Altai,", "paragraph_id": "para_768" }, { "text": "Inc., 918 S.W.2d 453, 457 (Tex. 1996)).8 An individual like", "paragraph_id": "para_769" }, { "text": "8 See also Heraeus, 927 F.3d at 735 (trade secret", "paragraph_id": "para_770" }, { "text": "owner’s knowledge that individuals who were at a company", "paragraph_id": "para_771" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 21 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_772" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.22", "paragraph_id": "para_773" }, { "text": "Mr. DiIanni is “a veritable repository of information on [his", "paragraph_id": "para_774" }, { "text": "former employer’s] products and designs,” and, if “hired by", "paragraph_id": "para_775" }, { "text": "[the alleged misappropriator] to design directly competing", "paragraph_id": "para_776" }, { "text": "products, [the employee] would be hard pressed to avoid", "paragraph_id": "para_777" }, { "text": "disclosing such information.” Leggett & Platt, 285 F.3d", "paragraph_id": "para_778" }, { "text": "at 1361.", "paragraph_id": "para_779" }, { "text": "B. Similarity", "paragraph_id": "para_780" }, { "text": "With respect to similarity, the plaintiff must possess", "paragraph_id": "para_781" }, { "text": "knowledge of sufficient facts to allege that the defendant’s", "paragraph_id": "para_782" }, { "text": "competing product is similar to at least one of the alleged", "paragraph_id": "para_783" }, { "text": "trade secrets.", "paragraph_id": "para_784" }, { "text": "1. Knowledge of General Similarities", "paragraph_id": "para_785" }, { "text": "Evidence from Insulet’s own employees showed that In-", "paragraph_id": "para_786" }, { "text": "sulet understood that EOFlow had developed a similar,", "paragraph_id": "para_787" }, { "text": "competing product before the critical date. Specifically,", "paragraph_id": "para_788" }, { "text": "both Insulet and EOFlow attended a June 2018 American", "paragraph_id": "para_789" }, { "text": "Diabetics Association (“ADA”) Conference, at which at-", "paragraph_id": "para_790" }, { "text": "tendee EOFlow displayed samples of EOPatch 2. Insulet", "paragraph_id": "para_791" }, { "text": "took a photograph of the EOFlow booth, which included", "paragraph_id": "para_792" }, { "text": "samples both inside and outside of a glass case. Following", "paragraph_id": "para_793" }, { "text": "the conference, Insulet employee Jeffrey Miller sent an", "paragraph_id": "para_794" }, { "text": "email to Insulet management stating that “EOFlow has", "paragraph_id": "para_795" }, { "text": "cloned our product . . . Our legal team is aware of this.", "paragraph_id": "para_796" }, { "text": "Someone should request samples.” J.A. 43583. Similarly,", "paragraph_id": "para_797" }, { "text": "Insulet engineer Ashutosh Zade stated in an email imme-", "paragraph_id": "para_798" }, { "text": "diately after the conference that “[w]e need to see if this", "paragraph_id": "para_799" }, { "text": "solution is based on our IP.” J.A. 54333. Another report", "paragraph_id": "para_800" }, { "text": "from the conference by Insulet Senior Test Engineer Joe", "paragraph_id": "para_801" }, { "text": "Gragido stated that EOFlow “make[s] a product called ‘EO", "paragraph_id": "para_802" }, { "text": "Patch’ that looks almost identical to Omnipod from the", "paragraph_id": "para_803" }, { "text": "PDM to the GUI to the Pod . . . except it has 200 U insulin", "paragraph_id": "para_804" }, { "text": "with access to the alleged trade secrets were “direct partic-", "paragraph_id": "para_805" }, { "text": "ipants” in development of competing product contributed to", "paragraph_id": "para_806" }, { "text": "conclusion that statute of limitations had run).", "paragraph_id": "para_807" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 22 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_808" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 23", "paragraph_id": "para_809" }, { "text": "and it is ‘AP Ready.’” J.A. 43585. And an intelligence sum-", "paragraph_id": "para_810" }, { "text": "mary sent to Insulet management concluded that EOFlow", "paragraph_id": "para_811" }, { "text": "had a “[v]ery similar product to Insulet’s OmniPod as it was", "paragraph_id": "para_812" }, { "text": "started by a former Insulet engineer; similar form factor", "paragraph_id": "para_813" }, { "text": "and reservoir size.” J.A. 43595. At trial, Eric Benjamin, In-", "paragraph_id": "para_814" }, { "text": "sulet’s Chief Product and Customer Experience Officer,", "paragraph_id": "para_815" }, { "text": "testified that the EOPatch 2 presented at the June 2018", "paragraph_id": "para_816" }, { "text": "conference “bore a stunning resemblance” to the Omnipod.", "paragraph_id": "para_817" }, { "text": "J.A. 20589.", "paragraph_id": "para_818" }, { "text": "These admitted conclusions amount to more than “mere", "paragraph_id": "para_819" }, { "text": "suspicion of misappropriation.” Dissent 3. The record", "paragraph_id": "para_820" }, { "text": "shows that these conclusions caused Insulet to start inves-", "paragraph_id": "para_821" }, { "text": "tigating. Shortly after the 2018 ADA conference, Insulet", "paragraph_id": "para_822" }, { "text": "personnel visited the EOFlow website twenty times. In-", "paragraph_id": "para_823" }, { "text": "sulet and EOFlow attended another ADA conference in", "paragraph_id": "para_824" }, { "text": "2019, where EOFlow similarly displayed samples. In-", "paragraph_id": "para_825" }, { "text": "sulet’s Deputy General Counsel, Jonathan Paris, attended", "paragraph_id": "para_826" }, { "text": "the 2019 ADA conference. In the course of its investigation,", "paragraph_id": "para_827" }, { "text": "Insulet discovered or should have discovered product simi-", "paragraph_id": "para_828" }, { "text": "larity suggesting trade secret misappropriation.", "paragraph_id": "para_829" }, { "text": "2. CAD files", "paragraph_id": "para_830" }, { "text": "The CAD-files trade secret concerns the design and", "paragraph_id": "para_831" }, { "text": "manufacture of the Omnipod device and was defined as", "paragraph_id": "para_832" }, { "text": "“CAD files for the Omnipod, including the file 13800-POD-", "paragraph_id": "para_833" }, { "text": "ASSEMBLY-ASM.” J.A. 21387. In Insulet’s original com-", "paragraph_id": "para_834" }, { "text": "plaint, Insulet alleged trade-secret misappropriation based", "paragraph_id": "para_835" }, { "text": "on visual comparisons of the Omnipod device with a sample", "paragraph_id": "para_836" }, { "text": "EOPatch 2 that Insulet obtained at a January 2023 trade", "paragraph_id": "para_837" }, { "text": "show. Insulet relied on side-by-side images of “the similar-", "paragraph_id": "para_838" }, { "text": "ities in physical components between Insulet’s Omnipod", "paragraph_id": "para_839" }, { "text": "and EOFlow’s EOPatch.” J.A. 310–12 ¶ 9; J.A. 347 ¶ 134.", "paragraph_id": "para_840" }, { "text": "The illustrative examples of similarities in Insulet’s com-", "paragraph_id": "para_841" }, { "text": "plaint included: (1) a drive system using a walking-man", "paragraph_id": "para_842" }, { "text": "hook and ratchet gears with a large number of teeth per", "paragraph_id": "para_843" }, { "text": "wheel; (2) a tube nut configuration to engage a drive rod in", "paragraph_id": "para_844" }, { "text": "a plunger; (3) the insulin reservoir with a single O-ring for", "paragraph_id": "para_845" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 23 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_846" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.24", "paragraph_id": "para_847" }, { "text": "the plunger; and (4) a “nail head” cannula seal. Uncontra-", "paragraph_id": "para_848" }, { "text": "dicted testimony and documents that were either known to", "paragraph_id": "para_849" }, { "text": "Insulet or publicly available showed that each of these fea-", "paragraph_id": "para_850" }, { "text": "tures was known or should have been known by Insulet be-", "paragraph_id": "para_851" }, { "text": "fore the critical date.", "paragraph_id": "para_852" }, { "text": "Walking-man hook and ratchet gears: Insulet’s", "paragraph_id": "para_853" }, { "text": "complaint describes similarities between the drive systems", "paragraph_id": "para_854" }, { "text": "in the Omnipod and EOPatch 2, which include a so-called", "paragraph_id": "para_855" }, { "text": "“walking-man” hook and ratchet gears. Insulet represent-", "paragraph_id": "para_856" }, { "text": "atives visited the EOFlow booth at both the 2018 and 2019", "paragraph_id": "para_857" }, { "text": "ADA trade shows and took a picture of EOFlow’s display.", "paragraph_id": "para_858" }, { "text": "At trial, EOFlow introduced physical samples of the", "paragraph_id": "para_859" }, { "text": "EOPatch clear case prototypes available at the 2018 and", "paragraph_id": "para_860" }, { "text": "2019 ADA conferences. Referring to the physical exhibit of", "paragraph_id": "para_861" }, { "text": "the sample from the 2018 ADA conference, Mr. Kim, the", "paragraph_id": "para_862" }, { "text": "chief executive officer of EOFlow, testified that “[s]o what", "paragraph_id": "para_863" }, { "text": "you see here, you can see very easily through the clear case", "paragraph_id": "para_864" }, { "text": "[features] such as the walking man.” J.A. 20749–52 (em-", "paragraph_id": "para_865" }, { "text": "phasis added). Mr. Kim also identified “the arm of the", "paragraph_id": "para_866" }, { "text": "walking man” and “the foot . . . that works between the", "paragraph_id": "para_867" }, { "text": "sensors,” and stated “if you look at it carefully, you can see", "paragraph_id": "para_868" }, { "text": "the teeth of the gears. So those are actually the gears in", "paragraph_id": "para_869" }, { "text": "that ratchet gear.” J.A. 20751. Insulet did not provide con-", "paragraph_id": "para_870" }, { "text": "trary testimony.", "paragraph_id": "para_871" }, { "text": "EOFlow also introduced undisputed evidence that a", "paragraph_id": "para_872" }, { "text": "prospectus created in connection with EOFlow’s IPO in Ko-", "paragraph_id": "para_873" }, { "text": "rea, which was publicly available by July 16, 2020, show-", "paragraph_id": "para_874" }, { "text": "cased various design features of the EOPatch. Eric", "paragraph_id": "para_875" }, { "text": "Benjamin, Insulet’s Chief Product and Customer Experi-", "paragraph_id": "para_876" }, { "text": "ence Officer, testified that Insulet was “paying consistent", "paragraph_id": "para_877" }, { "text": "attention” to EOFlow, and because “the IPO was a public", "paragraph_id": "para_878" }, { "text": "announcement, our attention increased.” J.A. 20600.", "paragraph_id": "para_879" }, { "text": "While the parties dispute whether Insulet reviewed the", "paragraph_id": "para_880" }, { "text": "prospectus before the critical date, a reasonable company", "paragraph_id": "para_881" }, { "text": "that is “paying consistent attention” to its competitor", "paragraph_id": "para_882" }, { "text": "should have known of major public announcements like the", "paragraph_id": "para_883" }, { "text": "IPO and accompanying prospectus before the critical date.", "paragraph_id": "para_884" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 24 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_885" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 25", "paragraph_id": "para_886" }, { "text": "J.A. 20600; see Ruth v. Unifund CCR Partners, 604 F.3d", "paragraph_id": "para_887" }, { "text": "908, 911 (6th Cir. 2010) (“When individuals have ‘the", "paragraph_id": "para_888" }, { "text": "means of discovery in [their] power,’ they generally are", "paragraph_id": "para_889" }, { "text": "‘held to have known it.’” (alteration in original) (quoting", "paragraph_id": "para_890" }, { "text": "Wood v. Carpenter, 101 U.S. 135, 141 (1879))). Mr. Kim", "paragraph_id": "para_891" }, { "text": "testified without contradiction that an image in the pro-", "paragraph_id": "para_892" }, { "text": "spectus fully disclosed the walking man drive system, in-", "paragraph_id": "para_893" }, { "text": "cluding the ratchet gears, in the EOPatch 2. J.A. 20766", "paragraph_id": "para_894" }, { "text": "(referring to J.A. 40205).", "paragraph_id": "para_895" }, { "text": "Tube nut configuration: The complaint also alleged", "paragraph_id": "para_896" }, { "text": "similarities in the screws and nuts used to engage the", "paragraph_id": "para_897" }, { "text": "plungers in the respective devices. Mr. Kim testified that", "paragraph_id": "para_898" }, { "text": "“the tube nut and the screws . . . eventually drives the", "paragraph_id": "para_899" }, { "text": "plunger forward” in the insulin patch pump. J.A. 20773.", "paragraph_id": "para_900" }, { "text": "In reference to the clear case sample of the EOPatch 2 from", "paragraph_id": "para_901" }, { "text": "the 2018 ADA conference, Mr. Kim, again without contra-", "paragraph_id": "para_902" }, { "text": "diction, testified that the sample showed these “screws and", "paragraph_id": "para_903" }, { "text": "the nuts.” J.A. 20751.", "paragraph_id": "para_904" }, { "text": "Reservoir and plunger o-ring: Another similarity", "paragraph_id": "para_905" }, { "text": "between the Omnipod and the EOPatch 2 identified in In-", "paragraph_id": "para_906" }, { "text": "sulet’s complaint was an insulin reservoir with a single O-", "paragraph_id": "para_907" }, { "text": "ring for a plunger. Mr. Kim testified that the clear case", "paragraph_id": "para_908" }, { "text": "sample showed “the reservoir [and] the plunger head O-", "paragraph_id": "para_909" }, { "text": "ring.” J.A. 20751. EOFlow employee Luis Malave also con-", "paragraph_id": "para_910" }, { "text": "firmed that the clear case sample showed the insulin res-", "paragraph_id": "para_911" }, { "text": "ervoir. J.A. 20877. While Insulet argued that “there’s a", "paragraph_id": "para_912" }, { "text": "white piece that blocks the view of the bottom of the reser-", "paragraph_id": "para_913" }, { "text": "voir,” J.A. 20877, and that the reservoir’s metal cap was re-", "paragraph_id": "para_914" }, { "text": "moved on the clear case sample, it did not provide", "paragraph_id": "para_915" }, { "text": "testimony to contradict Mr. Kim’s testimony that the white", "paragraph_id": "para_916" }, { "text": "piece did not obstruct the view of any particular allegedly", "paragraph_id": "para_917" }, { "text": "similar component of the reservoir, including the plunger.", "paragraph_id": "para_918" }, { "text": "“Nail-head” soft cannula seal: Finally, Insulet al-", "paragraph_id": "para_919" }, { "text": "leged in its complaint that the EOPatch 2 had a similar", "paragraph_id": "para_920" }, { "text": "“nail-head” cannula seal to the Omnipod. Mr. Kim testified", "paragraph_id": "para_921" }, { "text": "that EOFlow “display[ed] a poster at the 2018 ADA trade", "paragraph_id": "para_922" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 25 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_923" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.26", "paragraph_id": "para_924" }, { "text": "show . . . highlighting the soft cannula.” J.A. 20746–47 (re-", "paragraph_id": "para_925" }, { "text": "ferring to J.A. 55335). And, in particular, he testified that", "paragraph_id": "para_926" }, { "text": "the prospectus had “images of [the EOFlow] soft cannula in", "paragraph_id": "para_927" }, { "text": "EOPatch 2. . . . [T]his one has the flange or the nail head", "paragraph_id": "para_928" }, { "text": "and the tipping that goes into the body.” J.A. 20765 (em-", "paragraph_id": "para_929" }, { "text": "phasis added) (referring to J.A. 40208). Indeed, Insulet’s", "paragraph_id": "para_930" }, { "text": "technical expert admitted that the prospectus showed “fea-", "paragraph_id": "para_931" }, { "text": "tures on the soft cannula.” J.A. 21042. Again, there was", "paragraph_id": "para_932" }, { "text": "not contrary testimony.", "paragraph_id": "para_933" }, { "text": "In summary, the undisputed record shows that there", "paragraph_id": "para_934" }, { "text": "were no material facts in dispute about the similarity be-", "paragraph_id": "para_935" }, { "text": "tween the CAD files and the EOPatch 2. The record shows", "paragraph_id": "para_936" }, { "text": "that what was disclosed by examining the January 2023", "paragraph_id": "para_937" }, { "text": "sample was previously known as a result of the earlier dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_938" }, { "text": "closures. Therefore, the statute of limitations expired with", "paragraph_id": "para_939" }, { "text": "respect to the CAD-files trade secret before Insulet brought", "paragraph_id": "para_940" }, { "text": "suit, and the jury’s contrary conclusion was not supported", "paragraph_id": "para_941" }, { "text": "by substantial evidence.", "paragraph_id": "para_942" }, { "text": "3. Soft cannula and design history file", "paragraph_id": "para_943" }, { "text": "We next turn to the soft cannula and design history file", "paragraph_id": "para_944" }, { "text": "trade secrets. Insulet asserted the soft cannula (which has", "paragraph_id": "para_945" }, { "text": "its design included in the CAD-files trade secret) as a sep-", "paragraph_id": "para_946" }, { "text": "arate trade secret, defined as the “design and manufactur-", "paragraph_id": "para_947" }, { "text": "ing process of the Omnipod soft cannula.” J.A. 21387.", "paragraph_id": "para_948" }, { "text": "Having concluded that the statute has run as to the soft", "paragraph_id": "para_949" }, { "text": "cannula design contained in the CAD-files trade secret, the", "paragraph_id": "para_950" }, { "text": "statute of limitations has also run as to the specific soft", "paragraph_id": "para_951" }, { "text": "cannula trade secret.", "paragraph_id": "para_952" }, { "text": "In addition, Insulet also included the CAD files in the", "paragraph_id": "para_953" }, { "text": "scope of a broader compilation trade secret, the design his-", "paragraph_id": "para_954" }, { "text": "tory file. The design history file trade secret is defined as", "paragraph_id": "para_955" }, { "text": "“the design history file or DHF for the Omnipod Eros.”", "paragraph_id": "para_956" }, { "text": "J.A. 21387. When “the processes, procedures, or other", "paragraph_id": "para_957" }, { "text": "pieces of information used in each separate act of misap-", "paragraph_id": "para_958" }, { "text": "propriation are related to each other as portions or phases", "paragraph_id": "para_959" }, { "text": "of a single trade secret,” each act relates to the same", "paragraph_id": "para_960" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 26 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_961" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 27", "paragraph_id": "para_962" }, { "text": "misappropriation claim. Gognat, 259 P.3d at 503 (inter-", "paragraph_id": "para_963" }, { "text": "preting Colorado Uniform Trade Secrets Act). The statute", "paragraph_id": "para_964" }, { "text": "of limitations thus begins to run for the entire trade secret", "paragraph_id": "para_965" }, { "text": "whenever misappropriation of a portion of that trade secret", "paragraph_id": "para_966" }, { "text": "is discovered or should have been discovered. Id. at 504–", "paragraph_id": "para_967" }, { "text": "05. If the statute of limitations has run on a trade secret,", "paragraph_id": "para_968" }, { "text": "the statute of limitations has also run with respect to re-", "paragraph_id": "para_969" }, { "text": "lated, broader trade secrets of which it is a part. The stat-", "paragraph_id": "para_970" }, { "text": "ute of limitations therefore began to run with respect to the", "paragraph_id": "para_971" }, { "text": "design history file trade secret whenever Insulet knew, or", "paragraph_id": "para_972" }, { "text": "should have known, of sufficient information to plead a", "paragraph_id": "para_973" }, { "text": "claim as to the CAD-files trade secret. This occurred before", "paragraph_id": "para_974" }, { "text": "the critical date.9", "paragraph_id": "para_975" }, { "text": "4. Occlusion-detection algorithm", "paragraph_id": "para_976" }, { "text": "Finally, we address the occlusion-detection algorithm", "paragraph_id": "para_977" }, { "text": "trade secret. Occlusion detection is a standard feature of", "paragraph_id": "para_978" }, { "text": "all insulin pumps. But a particular occlusion-detection al-", "paragraph_id": "para_979" }, { "text": "gorithm may be a trade secret. The Omnipod’s occlusion-", "paragraph_id": "para_980" }, { "text": "detection algorithm is a “built-in method for quickly and", "paragraph_id": "para_981" }, { "text": "accurately identifying any occlusion” that prevents deliv-", "paragraph_id": "para_982" }, { "text": "ery of insulin, Appellee’s Br. 6, and is comprised of subcom-", "paragraph_id": "para_983" }, { "text": "ponent algorithms.", "paragraph_id": "para_984" }, { "text": "Before the critical date, as discussed above, Insulet", "paragraph_id": "para_985" }, { "text": "possessed or should have possessed sufficient knowledge of", "paragraph_id": "para_986" }, { "text": "(1) EOFlow’s access to Insulet’s trade secrets through", "paragraph_id": "para_987" }, { "text": "Mr. DiIanni; and (2) striking similarities between the", "paragraph_id": "para_988" }, { "text": "CAD-files trade secret and the EOPatch 2, which was dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_989" }, { "text": "closed by Mr. DiIanni to EOFlow during the same time pe-", "paragraph_id": "para_990" }, { "text": "riod and for the same purpose as the other asserted trade", "paragraph_id": "para_991" }, { "text": "secrets (to design the improved EOPatch 2). Mr. DiIanni’s", "paragraph_id": "para_992" }, { "text": "9 Because we conclude that the statute of limitations", "paragraph_id": "para_993" }, { "text": "expired with respect to the design history file trade secret,", "paragraph_id": "para_994" }, { "text": "we do not reach EOFlow’s argument that the design history", "paragraph_id": "para_995" }, { "text": "file does not constitute a trade secret.", "paragraph_id": "para_996" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 27 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_997" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.28", "paragraph_id": "para_998" }, { "text": "unauthorized disclosures to EOFlow, including his disclo-", "paragraph_id": "para_999" }, { "text": "sure of the occlusion-detection algorithm trade secret, form", "paragraph_id": "para_1000" }, { "text": "the breach of confidence at the heart of Insulet’s trade se-", "paragraph_id": "para_1001" }, { "text": "cret misappropriation claim. See Monolith, 407 F.2d", "paragraph_id": "para_1002" }, { "text": "at 293; Kehoe, 796 F.3d at 583. As Insulet’s claim is time-", "paragraph_id": "para_1003" }, { "text": "barred with respect to the other trade secrets that were", "paragraph_id": "para_1004" }, { "text": "part of this disclosure, Insulet’s trade secret claim is also", "paragraph_id": "para_1005" }, { "text": "time-barred with respect to the occlusion-detection algo-", "paragraph_id": "para_1006" }, { "text": "rithm.", "paragraph_id": "para_1007" }, { "text": "Importantly, this conclusion reflects a “controlling prin-", "paragraph_id": "para_1008" }, { "text": "ciple consistent with the purposes of the statutory accrual", "paragraph_id": "para_1009" }, { "text": "rule” for trade secrets that do not outwardly manifest in a", "paragraph_id": "para_1010" }, { "text": "misappropriator’s product. Gognat, 259 P.3d at 502. Such", "paragraph_id": "para_1011" }, { "text": "is the case when trade secrets are used internally to de-", "paragraph_id": "para_1012" }, { "text": "velop a product, like the occlusion-detection algorithm", "paragraph_id": "para_1013" }, { "text": "here. Otherwise, absent direct proof of a misappropriator’s", "paragraph_id": "para_1014" }, { "text": "access to the trade secret,10 the statute of limitations would", "paragraph_id": "para_1015" }, { "text": "never expire for a trade secret that could not be discovered", "paragraph_id": "para_1016" }, { "text": "based on publicly available information or other infor-", "paragraph_id": "para_1017" }, { "text": "mation known to the plaintiff. The statute of limitations", "paragraph_id": "para_1018" }, { "text": "begins to run with respect to all trade secrets disclosed dur-", "paragraph_id": "para_1019" }, { "text": "ing substantially the same time to that defendant by the", "paragraph_id": "para_1020" }, { "text": "same person for the same purpose.", "paragraph_id": "para_1021" }, { "text": "In summary, we conclude that the undisputed evidence", "paragraph_id": "para_1022" }, { "text": "establishes that the statute of limitations expired with re-", "paragraph_id": "para_1023" }, { "text": "spect to each trade secret before Insulet filed its complaint", "paragraph_id": "para_1024" }, { "text": "on August 3, 2023, and that the jury’s verdict to the con-", "paragraph_id": "para_1025" }, { "text": "trary was unsupported by substantial evidence.", "paragraph_id": "para_1026" }, { "text": "5. Claimed Contrary Evidence", "paragraph_id": "para_1027" }, { "text": "Largely through unexplained citations, Insulet argues", "paragraph_id": "para_1028" }, { "text": "that the record supports its position that it was not able to", "paragraph_id": "para_1029" }, { "text": "10 We have previously noted that “direct evidence is", "paragraph_id": "para_1030" }, { "text": "rarely available” as to a misappropriator’s access to a trade", "paragraph_id": "para_1031" }, { "text": "secret. Leggett & Platt, 285 F.3d at 1361.", "paragraph_id": "para_1032" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 28 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1033" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 29", "paragraph_id": "para_1034" }, { "text": "discover facts sufficient to bring its trade secret claim until", "paragraph_id": "para_1035" }, { "text": "after the critical date. We have examined each one of In-", "paragraph_id": "para_1036" }, { "text": "sulet’s references cited in its brief, at oral argument, and", "paragraph_id": "para_1037" }, { "text": "in its letter to the court following oral argument. None of", "paragraph_id": "para_1038" }, { "text": "its citations contradicts the evidence that Insulet discov-", "paragraph_id": "para_1039" }, { "text": "ered or should have discovered facts sufficient to allege", "paragraph_id": "para_1040" }, { "text": "trade secret misappropriation before the critical date.", "paragraph_id": "para_1041" }, { "text": "Nominal dimensions: First, Insulet points to testi-", "paragraph_id": "para_1042" }, { "text": "mony that, before the critical date, it could not discover the", "paragraph_id": "para_1043" }, { "text": "precise, nominal dimensions contained in the CAD files be-", "paragraph_id": "para_1044" }, { "text": "cause the nominal dimensions shown in the CAD files", "paragraph_id": "para_1045" }, { "text": "“could not be gleaned from examining a physical sample.”", "paragraph_id": "para_1046" }, { "text": "Appellee’s Br. 5; see also Oral Arg. at 27:10–36:17.11", "paragraph_id": "para_1047" }, { "text": "As discussed earlier, knowledge of the precise nominal", "paragraph_id": "para_1048" }, { "text": "dimensions of a device are not needed to plead trade secret", "paragraph_id": "para_1049" }, { "text": "misappropriation, and Insulet itself did not plead facts re-", "paragraph_id": "para_1050" }, { "text": "lated to the nominal dimensions of the EOPatch 2 in its", "paragraph_id": "para_1051" }, { "text": "original complaint based on the sample it examined in Feb-", "paragraph_id": "para_1052" }, { "text": "ruary 2023. Insulet did not need to know the dimensions", "paragraph_id": "para_1053" }, { "text": "of the EOPatch 2 to plead misappropriation.", "paragraph_id": "para_1054" }, { "text": "Manufacturing processes of the cannula seal: In-", "paragraph_id": "para_1055" }, { "text": "sulet relies on testimony from Luis Malave, an EOFlow em-", "paragraph_id": "para_1056" }, { "text": "ployee who formerly worked for Insulet, who stated that", "paragraph_id": "para_1057" }, { "text": "one could not see “the method by which the cannula was", "paragraph_id": "para_1058" }, { "text": "11 Insulet also cites testimony from one of its engi-", "paragraph_id": "para_1059" }, { "text": "neers describing how the CAD files have “dimensions for", "paragraph_id": "para_1060" }, { "text": "every one of [the] features” in the Omnipod Eros, but that", "paragraph_id": "para_1061" }, { "text": "these dimensions could not be measured “in a physical", "paragraph_id": "para_1062" }, { "text": "part.” J.A. 20518. Insulet’s technical expert admitted that", "paragraph_id": "para_1063" }, { "text": "nominal dimensions cannot be ascertained by “open[ing a", "paragraph_id": "para_1064" }, { "text": "device] up and looking at it.” J.A. 21035; accord", "paragraph_id": "para_1065" }, { "text": "J.A. 21066–67; see also Trial Tr. Day 5, Insulet Corp.", "paragraph_id": "para_1066" }, { "text": "v. EOFlow, Co., No. 23-11780 (D. Mass. Dec. 13, 2024),", "paragraph_id": "para_1067" }, { "text": "ECF No. 843, at 183:17–24 (testimony by Mr. DiIanni).", "paragraph_id": "para_1068" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 29 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1069" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.30", "paragraph_id": "para_1070" }, { "text": "manufactured” by looking at the 2018 ADA conference", "paragraph_id": "para_1071" }, { "text": "sample. J.A. 20877.12 The manufacture of the soft cannula", "paragraph_id": "para_1072" }, { "text": "is only a portion of the soft cannula trade secret. Insulet", "paragraph_id": "para_1073" }, { "text": "could have discovered the similarity of the design of the", "paragraph_id": "para_1074" }, { "text": "EOPatch 2 cannula seal to its trade secrets before the crit-", "paragraph_id": "para_1075" }, { "text": "ical date. In its complaint, Insulet alleged misappropria-", "paragraph_id": "para_1076" }, { "text": "tion based on the visual similarity between these features", "paragraph_id": "para_1077" }, { "text": "of the cannula seal on the Omnipod and EOPatch 2, rather", "paragraph_id": "para_1078" }, { "text": "than manufacturing processes. There is no testimony that", "paragraph_id": "para_1079" }, { "text": "knowledge of the misappropriation of the design of the soft", "paragraph_id": "para_1080" }, { "text": "cannula seal was not available prior to the critical date.", "paragraph_id": "para_1081" }, { "text": "“Cut off” soft cannula: Insulet relies on testimony", "paragraph_id": "para_1082" }, { "text": "from several EOFlow witnesses who testified that the soft", "paragraph_id": "para_1083" }, { "text": "cannula was “cut off” of the physical samples of the", "paragraph_id": "para_1084" }, { "text": "EOPatch 2 at the ADA conference in June 2018.", "paragraph_id": "para_1085" }, { "text": "J.A. 20780 (Jesse Kim); J.A. 20877 (Luis Malave). How-", "paragraph_id": "para_1086" }, { "text": "ever, as discussed earlier, other disclosures, including", "paragraph_id": "para_1087" }, { "text": "EOFlow’s poster at the 2018 ADA conference and the pro-", "paragraph_id": "para_1088" }, { "text": "spectus, disclosed the relevant features of the soft cannula", "paragraph_id": "para_1089" }, { "text": "on the EOPatch 2 before the critical date. J.A. 20746–47", "paragraph_id": "para_1090" }, { "text": "(referring to J.A. 55335); J.A. 21042.", "paragraph_id": "para_1091" }, { "text": "Conclusory testimony: Finally, Insulet relies on gen-", "paragraph_id": "para_1092" }, { "text": "eralized conclusory testimony from its own witnesses. Re-", "paragraph_id": "para_1093" }, { "text": "ferring to the prospectus, an Insulet expert testified that,", "paragraph_id": "para_1094" }, { "text": "“[M]y opinion [is] [t]here is nothing there that would indi-", "paragraph_id": "para_1095" }, { "text": "cate . . . that a trade secret had been misappropriated.”", "paragraph_id": "para_1096" }, { "text": "J.A. 21042. Insulet also refers to testimony from its dili-", "paragraph_id": "para_1097" }, { "text": "gence expert that, in his opinion, Insulet could not send a", "paragraph_id": "para_1098" }, { "text": "cease-and-desist letter to EOFlow “until they had obtained", "paragraph_id": "para_1099" }, { "text": "a product and were able to see the inner workings of [the", "paragraph_id": "para_1100" }, { "text": "12 Insulet similarly argues that information available", "paragraph_id": "para_1101" }, { "text": "before the critical date failed to disclose “specialized tooling", "paragraph_id": "para_1102" }, { "text": "or special dimensions to create a seal” on the soft cannula,", "paragraph_id": "para_1103" }, { "text": "relying on testimony from one of its technical experts.", "paragraph_id": "para_1104" }, { "text": "J.A. 21042.", "paragraph_id": "para_1105" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 30 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1106" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 31", "paragraph_id": "para_1107" }, { "text": "EOPatch 2].” J.A. 21321–22. Another Insulet witness tes-", "paragraph_id": "para_1108" }, { "text": "tified that he would not “think that EOFlow had stolen In-", "paragraph_id": "para_1109" }, { "text": "sulet’s trade secrets” until he saw “the inner workings” of", "paragraph_id": "para_1110" }, { "text": "the EOPatch 2, and that “as of 2020 there was still nothing", "paragraph_id": "para_1111" }, { "text": "to suggest that EOFlow was doing something different", "paragraph_id": "para_1112" }, { "text": "than following a different technology path to produce a", "paragraph_id": "para_1113" }, { "text": "product that was a lot like Omnipod.” J.A. 20540–41,", "paragraph_id": "para_1114" }, { "text": "20587; accord J.A. 20524, 20583–84, 20586–88, 20598.", "paragraph_id": "para_1115" }, { "text": "In light of the specific testimony as to the features dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_1116" }, { "text": "cerned before the critical date, such generalized, conclusory", "paragraph_id": "para_1117" }, { "text": "testimony reflecting the subjective view of the witness (the", "paragraph_id": "para_1118" }, { "text": "opinion or “thinking” of the witness) is insufficient evidence", "paragraph_id": "para_1119" }, { "text": "to support the verdict. See Trs. of Boston Univ. v. Everlight", "paragraph_id": "para_1120" }, { "text": "Elecs. Co., Ltd., 896 F.3d 1357, 1363 (Fed. Cir. 2018)", "paragraph_id": "para_1121" }, { "text": "(“[C]onclusory statements by an expert . . . are insufficient", "paragraph_id": "para_1122" }, { "text": "to sustain a jury’s verdict.” (quoting MobileMedia Ideas", "paragraph_id": "para_1123" }, { "text": "LLC v. Apple Inc., 780 F.3d 1159, 1172 (Fed. Cir. 2015))", "paragraph_id": "para_1124" }, { "text": "(alterations in original)). The district court here should", "paragraph_id": "para_1125" }, { "text": "have granted JMOL because the statute of limitations ex-", "paragraph_id": "para_1126" }, { "text": "pired before Insulet filed its complaint on August 3, 2023.13", "paragraph_id": "para_1127" }, { "text": "13 Insulet also suggests EOFlow engaged in a “strat-", "paragraph_id": "para_1128" }, { "text": "egy of concealment” of the EOPatch 2, Appellee’s Br. 46,", "paragraph_id": "para_1129" }, { "text": "and that “Defendants’ concealment and misrepresenta-", "paragraph_id": "para_1130" }, { "text": "tions” of EOFlow’s technology also support the jury’s stat-", "paragraph_id": "para_1131" }, { "text": "ute-of-limitations findings. Appellee’s Br. 51. EOFlow", "paragraph_id": "para_1132" }, { "text": "correctly notes that Insulet did not plead fraudulent con-", "paragraph_id": "para_1133" }, { "text": "cealment as an affirmative defense. Reply Br. 19. Even", "paragraph_id": "para_1134" }, { "text": "assuming fraudulent concealment is at issue, fraudulent", "paragraph_id": "para_1135" }, { "text": "concealment may only toll a limitations period if “the con-", "paragraph_id": "para_1136" }, { "text": "cealment prevented plaintiff's discovery of the nature of the", "paragraph_id": "para_1137" }, { "text": "claim within the limitations period; and . . . plaintiff exer-", "paragraph_id": "para_1138" }, { "text": "cised due diligence in pursuing the discovery of the claim", "paragraph_id": "para_1139" }, { "text": "during the period plaintiff seeks to have tolled.” Koch", "paragraph_id": "para_1140" }, { "text": "v. Christie’s Int’l PLC, 699 F.3d 141, 157 (2d Cir. 2012) (in-", "paragraph_id": "para_1141" }, { "text": "ternal quotations omitted); see also Klehr v. A.O. Smith", "paragraph_id": "para_1142" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 31 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1143" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.32", "paragraph_id": "para_1144" }, { "text": "The dissent does nothing to undermine this analysis.", "paragraph_id": "para_1145" }, { "text": "First, the dissent suggests that somehow this approach “in-", "paragraph_id": "para_1146" }, { "text": "duces an unfortunate, and premature, rush to the court-", "paragraph_id": "para_1147" }, { "text": "house.” Dissent 3. Quite the contrary, the analysis is", "paragraph_id": "para_1148" }, { "text": "entirely in terms of the original complaint that was actu-", "paragraph_id": "para_1149" }, { "text": "ally filed by Insulet (not the amended complaint that incor-", "paragraph_id": "para_1150" }, { "text": "porated information secured through discovery) and simply", "paragraph_id": "para_1151" }, { "text": "asks whether the information alleged in Insulet’s own com-", "paragraph_id": "para_1152" }, { "text": "plaint to support Insulet’s misappropriation claim had", "paragraph_id": "para_1153" }, { "text": "been discovered or should have been discovered before the", "paragraph_id": "para_1154" }, { "text": "critical date. That focus hardly prompts premature filing.", "paragraph_id": "para_1155" }, { "text": "Second, the dissent questions whether allegations un-", "paragraph_id": "para_1156" }, { "text": "der the access-plus-similarity framework may sufficiently", "paragraph_id": "para_1157" }, { "text": "state a claim for trade secret misappropriation because", "paragraph_id": "para_1158" }, { "text": "several of the relevant cases do not involve the motion-to-", "paragraph_id": "para_1159" }, { "text": "dismiss stage. While the relevant cases arise in different", "paragraph_id": "para_1160" }, { "text": "procedural postures, they each address and confirm the rel-", "paragraph_id": "para_1161" }, { "text": "evant standard to plead and prove trade secret misappro-", "paragraph_id": "para_1162" }, { "text": "priation claims.", "paragraph_id": "para_1163" }, { "text": "Third, the dissent suggests that “the Opinion flips the", "paragraph_id": "para_1164" }, { "text": "[JMOL] standard on its head and accepts EOFlow’s view of", "paragraph_id": "para_1165" }, { "text": "the facts over Insulet’s,” Dissent 7, and “assumes . . . sim-", "paragraph_id": "para_1166" }, { "text": "ilarities were known before the critical date.” Dissent 9.", "paragraph_id": "para_1167" }, { "text": "We do no such thing. Rather, we conduct a detailed analy-", "paragraph_id": "para_1168" }, { "text": "sis of the Insulet testimony that allegedly supports a lack", "paragraph_id": "para_1169" }, { "text": "of access and similarity, and we conclude that it demon-", "paragraph_id": "para_1170" }, { "text": "strates a lack of substantial evidence to support the jury’s", "paragraph_id": "para_1171" }, { "text": "verdict.", "paragraph_id": "para_1172" }, { "text": "Corp., 521 U.S. 179, 195 (1997) (for RICO claims, “[t]he con-", "paragraph_id": "para_1173" }, { "text": "cealment requirement is satisfied only if the plaintiff shows", "paragraph_id": "para_1174" }, { "text": "that he neither knew nor, in the exercise of due diligence,", "paragraph_id": "para_1175" }, { "text": "could reasonably have known of the offense” (internal quo-", "paragraph_id": "para_1176" }, { "text": "tations omitted)). Here, EOFlow did not prevent Insulet", "paragraph_id": "para_1177" }, { "text": "from discovering the relevant information.", "paragraph_id": "para_1178" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 32 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1179" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 33", "paragraph_id": "para_1180" }, { "text": "As to access, the dissent simply suggests that Insulet", "paragraph_id": "para_1181" }, { "text": "was unaware before the critical date whether Insulet’s for-", "paragraph_id": "para_1182" }, { "text": "mer employees took relevant documentation with them", "paragraph_id": "para_1183" }, { "text": "when they left the company. Dissent 7–8. As outlined in", "paragraph_id": "para_1184" }, { "text": "Oakwood Laboratories and Leggett & Platt, the relevant in-", "paragraph_id": "para_1185" }, { "text": "quiry is the “competitor’s access to the plaintiff’s former", "paragraph_id": "para_1186" }, { "text": "employee,” Oakwood Lab’ys, 999 F.3d at 912 n.19, particu-", "paragraph_id": "para_1187" }, { "text": "larly when that employee, like Mr. DiIanni, is a “veritable", "paragraph_id": "para_1188" }, { "text": "repository of information on [plaintiff]’s products and de-", "paragraph_id": "para_1189" }, { "text": "signs,” Leggett & Platt, 285 F.3d at 1361. Under the rele-", "paragraph_id": "para_1190" }, { "text": "vant cases, knowledge that specific documentation has", "paragraph_id": "para_1191" }, { "text": "been misappropriated is unnecessary. In any event, the", "paragraph_id": "para_1192" }, { "text": "original complaint said nothing about Mr. DiIanni or any", "paragraph_id": "para_1193" }, { "text": "other former Insulet employee’s misappropriation of In-", "paragraph_id": "para_1194" }, { "text": "sulet documents, which are facts that Insulet admittedly", "paragraph_id": "para_1195" }, { "text": "only learned after discovery and incorporated in the", "paragraph_id": "para_1196" }, { "text": "amended complaint. See Appellee’s Br. 16; Appellee’s Prin-", "paragraph_id": "para_1197" }, { "text": "cipal Br. at 9–12, Insulet I (No. 24-1137), Dkt. No. 29 (dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_1198" }, { "text": "cussing evidence of document retention and disclosure", "paragraph_id": "para_1199" }, { "text": "produced during expedited preliminary discovery). Insulet", "paragraph_id": "para_1200" }, { "text": "itself thought this evidence was unnecessary to allege", "paragraph_id": "para_1201" }, { "text": "trade secret misappropriation in its original complaint.", "paragraph_id": "para_1202" }, { "text": "As to similarity, the dissent recognizes that the “eval-", "paragraph_id": "para_1203" }, { "text": "uation of the similarity prong must be a fact-intensive in-", "paragraph_id": "para_1204" }, { "text": "quiry that carefully considers the context and type of trade", "paragraph_id": "para_1205" }, { "text": "secret at issue.” Dissent 4. But the dissent largely fails to", "paragraph_id": "para_1206" }, { "text": "conduct this fact-intensive analysis or to address the fac-", "paragraph_id": "para_1207" }, { "text": "tual analysis necessary for substantial evidence review.", "paragraph_id": "para_1208" }, { "text": "The dissent suggests there is a conflict in testimony", "paragraph_id": "para_1209" }, { "text": "that preserves the jury’s verdict. Dissent 9–11. There is", "paragraph_id": "para_1210" }, { "text": "no such conflict. The specific testimony on which the dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_1211" }, { "text": "sent relies fails to show Insulet lacked knowledge of simi-", "paragraph_id": "para_1212" }, { "text": "larity between the Omnipod and the EOPatch 2 before the", "paragraph_id": "para_1213" }, { "text": "critical date. The dissent identifies Insulet’s claimed lack", "paragraph_id": "para_1214" }, { "text": "of knowledge as to manufacturing details of the EOPatch 2,", "paragraph_id": "para_1215" }, { "text": "Dissent 9 (citing J.A. 20583–84); id. at 11 (citing", "paragraph_id": "para_1216" }, { "text": "J.A. 21041–42), but knowledge of these details is", "paragraph_id": "para_1217" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 33 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1218" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.34", "paragraph_id": "para_1219" }, { "text": "unnecessary to state a claim for misappropriation. See su-", "paragraph_id": "para_1220" }, { "text": "pra section III. The dissent also relies on testimony that", "paragraph_id": "para_1221" }, { "text": "the soft cannula was “cut-off” of the ADA conference sam-", "paragraph_id": "para_1222" }, { "text": "ples. Dissent 10 (citing J.A. 20780, 20877). As discussed", "paragraph_id": "para_1223" }, { "text": "above, the EOPatch 2’s soft cannula was fully disclosed be-", "paragraph_id": "para_1224" }, { "text": "fore the critical date, with Insulet’s own expert admitting", "paragraph_id": "para_1225" }, { "text": "that the features of the soft cannula were disclosed in the", "paragraph_id": "para_1226" }, { "text": "prospectus. See supra section V.B.2; see also J.A. 21042.", "paragraph_id": "para_1227" }, { "text": "The remaining testimony relied upon by the dissent, all of", "paragraph_id": "para_1228" }, { "text": "which came from Insulet employees, Dissent 9–10 (citing", "paragraph_id": "para_1229" }, { "text": "J.A. 20541, 20583–84, 20586–88) is conclusory and subjec-", "paragraph_id": "para_1230" }, { "text": "tive. See supra section V.B.5", "paragraph_id": "para_1231" }, { "text": "In summary, the record shows that Insulet personnel", "paragraph_id": "para_1232" }, { "text": "were close enough to the EOFlow samples to take photo-", "paragraph_id": "para_1233" }, { "text": "graphs at the 2018 ADA conference and observed striking", "paragraph_id": "para_1234" }, { "text": "similarities between the products; that Insulet personnel", "paragraph_id": "para_1235" }, { "text": "visited the EOFlow website twenty times in the days after", "paragraph_id": "para_1236" }, { "text": "the 2018 ADA conference; that Jonathan Paris, Insulet’s", "paragraph_id": "para_1237" }, { "text": "Deputy General Counsel, examined the EOFlow booth at", "paragraph_id": "para_1238" }, { "text": "the 2019 ADA conference; and that images of features of", "paragraph_id": "para_1239" }, { "text": "the EOPatch 2 were publicly available in the prospectus", "paragraph_id": "para_1240" }, { "text": "before the critical date. None of the testimony raised in the", "paragraph_id": "para_1241" }, { "text": "dissent rebuts the undisputed evidence that Insulet knew", "paragraph_id": "para_1242" }, { "text": "or should have known of the similarities between the as-", "paragraph_id": "para_1243" }, { "text": "serted trade secrets and the EOPatch 2 before the critical", "paragraph_id": "para_1244" }, { "text": "date. Insulet’s claim is thus time-barred.", "paragraph_id": "para_1245" }, { "text": "CONCLUSION", "paragraph_id": "para_1246" }, { "text": "For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the judgment be-", "paragraph_id": "para_1247" }, { "text": "cause the statute of limitations for Insulet’s DTSA claim", "paragraph_id": "para_1248" }, { "text": "expired before Insulet brought suit. We therefore decline", "paragraph_id": "para_1249" }, { "text": "to address the other issues EOFlow raises on appeal.", "paragraph_id": "para_1250" }, { "text": "REVERSED", "paragraph_id": "para_1251" }, { "text": "COSTS", "paragraph_id": "para_1252" }, { "text": "Costs to EOFlow.", "paragraph_id": "para_1253" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 34 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1254" }, { "text": "United States Court of Appeals", "paragraph_id": "para_1255" }, { "text": "for the Federal Circuit", "paragraph_id": "para_1256" }, { "text": "______________________", "paragraph_id": "para_1257" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP.,", "paragraph_id": "para_1258" }, { "text": "Plaintiff-Appellee", "paragraph_id": "para_1259" }, { "text": "v.", "paragraph_id": "para_1260" }, { "text": "EOFLOW, CO. LTD., EOFLOW, INC., JESSE J. KIM,", "paragraph_id": "para_1261" }, { "text": "Defendants-Appellants", "paragraph_id": "para_1262" }, { "text": "______________________", "paragraph_id": "para_1263" }, { "text": "2025-1807", "paragraph_id": "para_1264" }, { "text": "______________________", "paragraph_id": "para_1265" }, { "text": "Appeal from the United States District Court for the", "paragraph_id": "para_1266" }, { "text": "District of Massachusetts in No. 1:23-cv-11780-FDS, Judge", "paragraph_id": "para_1267" }, { "text": "F. Dennis Saylor, IV.", "paragraph_id": "para_1268" }, { "text": "______________________", "paragraph_id": "para_1269" }, { "text": "PROST, Circuit Judge, dissenting.", "paragraph_id": "para_1270" }, { "text": "After a five-week trial in which over twenty witnesses", "paragraph_id": "para_1271" }, { "text": "testified and more than 300 exhibits were admitted into ev-", "paragraph_id": "para_1272" }, { "text": "idence, the jury found that none of the misappropriated", "paragraph_id": "para_1273" }, { "text": "trade secrets were time-barred. Yet, the majority over-", "paragraph_id": "para_1274" }, { "text": "turns the jury’s verdict based on legal theories that", "paragraph_id": "para_1275" }, { "text": "EOFlow neither presses nor develops. The majority errs in", "paragraph_id": "para_1276" }, { "text": "four main ways: (1) it conflates its application of the dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_1277" }, { "text": "covery rule with the inquiry-notice standard, (2) it adopts", "paragraph_id": "para_1278" }, { "text": "a framework not supported by the case law, (3) it encour-", "paragraph_id": "para_1279" }, { "text": "ages plaintiffs to race to the courthouse with undeveloped", "paragraph_id": "para_1280" }, { "text": "claims based on mere suspicion, and (4) it improperly", "paragraph_id": "para_1281" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 35 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1282" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.2", "paragraph_id": "para_1283" }, { "text": "substitutes our own fact findings for those of the jury. I", "paragraph_id": "para_1284" }, { "text": "respectfully dissent.1", "paragraph_id": "para_1285" }, { "text": "I", "paragraph_id": "para_1286" }, { "text": "The debate in this case begins with which standard ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_1287" }, { "text": "plies to the DTSA’s statute-of-limitations provision: the in-", "paragraph_id": "para_1288" }, { "text": "quiry-notice standard or the discovery rule? That answer", "paragraph_id": "para_1289" }, { "text": "matters because it determines when the clock starts for the", "paragraph_id": "para_1290" }, { "text": "statute of limitations. Under the inquiry-notice standard,", "paragraph_id": "para_1291" }, { "text": "the clock starts when a reasonably diligent person would", "paragraph_id": "para_1292" }, { "text": "have begun to investigate a potential misappropriation.", "paragraph_id": "para_1293" }, { "text": "Under the discovery rule, the clock starts when a reasona-", "paragraph_id": "para_1294" }, { "text": "bly diligent person discovered (or should have discovered)", "paragraph_id": "para_1295" }, { "text": "the misappropriation.", "paragraph_id": "para_1296" }, { "text": "Rather than address this issue head on, the majority", "paragraph_id": "para_1297" }, { "text": "sidesteps the parties’ dispute and concludes that “even un-", "paragraph_id": "para_1298" }, { "text": "der the more demanding Merck standard [(i.e., discovery", "paragraph_id": "para_1299" }, { "text": "rule)], the statute of limitations expired before Insulet filed", "paragraph_id": "para_1300" }, { "text": "its complaint.” Maj. 10. My concern with the majority’s", "paragraph_id": "para_1301" }, { "text": "approach is two-fold: (1) it is clear from the plain text of 18", "paragraph_id": "para_1302" }, { "text": "U.S.C. § 1836(d) that the discovery rule applies, not the in-", "paragraph_id": "para_1303" }, { "text": "quiry-notice standard, and (2) the majority’s application of", "paragraph_id": "para_1304" }, { "text": "the discovery rule does not appear meaningfully different", "paragraph_id": "para_1305" }, { "text": "from the inquiry-notice standard.", "paragraph_id": "para_1306" }, { "text": "As to my first concern, a claim under the DTSA “may", "paragraph_id": "para_1307" }, { "text": "not be commenced later than 3 years after the date on", "paragraph_id": "para_1308" }, { "text": "which the misappropriation with respect to which the ac-", "paragraph_id": "para_1309" }, { "text": "tion would relate is discovered or by the exercise of reason-", "paragraph_id": "para_1310" }, { "text": "able diligence should have been discovered.” 18 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_1311" }, { "text": "§ 1836(d) (emphasis added). This is the discovery rule, not", "paragraph_id": "para_1312" }, { "text": "the inquiry-notice standard. There should be no reasona-", "paragraph_id": "para_1313" }, { "text": "ble debate or hedging about which standard governs here.", "paragraph_id": "para_1314" }, { "text": "1 I join Part I of the majority’s opinion, which con-", "paragraph_id": "para_1315" }, { "text": "cerns our jurisdiction.", "paragraph_id": "para_1316" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 36 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1317" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 3", "paragraph_id": "para_1318" }, { "text": "As to my second concern, the majority focuses its anal-", "paragraph_id": "para_1319" }, { "text": "ysis on when Insulet should have begun its investigation", "paragraph_id": "para_1320" }, { "text": "(i.e., when the clock starts under the inquiry-notice stand-", "paragraph_id": "para_1321" }, { "text": "ard), not when Insulet reasonably should have discovered", "paragraph_id": "para_1322" }, { "text": "the misappropriation (i.e., when the clock starts under the", "paragraph_id": "para_1323" }, { "text": "discovery rule). See, e.g., Maj. 23. Those are two separate", "paragraph_id": "para_1324" }, { "text": "events. The majority’s apparent application of the discov-", "paragraph_id": "para_1325" }, { "text": "ery rule raises questions as to whether it sees a meaningful", "paragraph_id": "para_1326" }, { "text": "difference between those standards. And, to be sure, there", "paragraph_id": "para_1327" }, { "text": "is a difference. As I explain below, under proper applica-", "paragraph_id": "para_1328" }, { "text": "tion of the discovery rule, Insulet’s complaint was timely", "paragraph_id": "para_1329" }, { "text": "filed (or so the jury might have reasonably found).", "paragraph_id": "para_1330" }, { "text": "II", "paragraph_id": "para_1331" }, { "text": "I agree with the majority that the access-plus-similar-", "paragraph_id": "para_1332" }, { "text": "ity framework helps determine when a reasonably diligent", "paragraph_id": "para_1333" }, { "text": "plaintiff should have discovered the misappropriation, but", "paragraph_id": "para_1334" }, { "text": "I do not agree with how the majority defines the access-", "paragraph_id": "para_1335" }, { "text": "plus-similarity framework and applies it to the facts in this", "paragraph_id": "para_1336" }, { "text": "case. First, the majority’s characterization (and applica-", "paragraph_id": "para_1337" }, { "text": "tion) of the access-plus-similarity framework is not sup-", "paragraph_id": "para_1338" }, { "text": "ported by the case law and induces a premature, and", "paragraph_id": "para_1339" }, { "text": "unfortunate, rush to the courthouse based on mere suspi-", "paragraph_id": "para_1340" }, { "text": "cion. Second, the majority’s analysis overturning the jury’s", "paragraph_id": "para_1341" }, { "text": "statute-of-limitations findings is based on a mistaken view", "paragraph_id": "para_1342" }, { "text": "that those findings were unsupported by substantial evi-", "paragraph_id": "para_1343" }, { "text": "dence. By deeming all asserted trade secrets time-barred,", "paragraph_id": "para_1344" }, { "text": "the majority substitutes its own view of the facts for that of", "paragraph_id": "para_1345" }, { "text": "the jury.2", "paragraph_id": "para_1346" }, { "text": "A", "paragraph_id": "para_1347" }, { "text": "The majority adopts an access-plus-similarity frame-", "paragraph_id": "para_1348" }, { "text": "work not supported by the case law. It announces that we", "paragraph_id": "para_1349" }, { "text": "2 I address separately why the occlusion-detection-", "paragraph_id": "para_1350" }, { "text": "algorithm trade secret is not time-barred in Part III of this", "paragraph_id": "para_1351" }, { "text": "dissent.", "paragraph_id": "para_1352" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 37 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1353" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.4", "paragraph_id": "para_1354" }, { "text": "have held “the plaintiff possesses sufficient facts to state a", "paragraph_id": "para_1355" }, { "text": "claim for trade secret misappropriation” “if a plaintiff has", "paragraph_id": "para_1356" }, { "text": "knowledge that (1) the alleged misappropriator has access", "paragraph_id": "para_1357" }, { "text": "to the alleged trade secrets through a former employee of", "paragraph_id": "para_1358" }, { "text": "the trade secret owner and (2) there is similarity between", "paragraph_id": "para_1359" }, { "text": "the trade secrets and the alleged misappropriator’s compet-", "paragraph_id": "para_1360" }, { "text": "ing product.” Maj. 13–14 (citing Leggett & Platt, Inc.", "paragraph_id": "para_1361" }, { "text": "v. Hickory Springs Mfg. Co., 285 F.3d 1353 (Fed. Cir.", "paragraph_id": "para_1362" }, { "text": "2002)). That framework is not supported by the case law.", "paragraph_id": "para_1363" }, { "text": "And, practically speaking, that can’t be the framework.", "paragraph_id": "para_1364" }, { "text": "“Access” must require more than just the fact that a", "paragraph_id": "para_1365" }, { "text": "former employee who had access to trade secrets now", "paragraph_id": "para_1366" }, { "text": "works for the defendant (otherwise, premature suits will", "paragraph_id": "para_1367" }, { "text": "proliferate), and evaluation of the similarity prong must be", "paragraph_id": "para_1368" }, { "text": "a fact-intensive inquiry that carefully considers the context", "paragraph_id": "para_1369" }, { "text": "and type of trade secret at issue.", "paragraph_id": "para_1370" }, { "text": "Contrary to the majority’s suggestion, Leggett does not", "paragraph_id": "para_1371" }, { "text": "address the pleading standard for trade secret cases; ra-", "paragraph_id": "para_1372" }, { "text": "ther, it concerned the district court’s grant of summary", "paragraph_id": "para_1373" }, { "text": "judgment of no misappropriation of trade secrets.3 We also", "paragraph_id": "para_1374" }, { "text": "3 While Oakwood concerned a motion to dismiss, it", "paragraph_id": "para_1375" }, { "text": "does not support the majority’s characterization of the ac-", "paragraph_id": "para_1376" }, { "text": "cess-plus-similarity framework. Contrary to the majority’s", "paragraph_id": "para_1377" }, { "text": "suggestion, Maj. 33, the complaint in Oakwood relied on", "paragraph_id": "para_1378" }, { "text": "more than just (1) the competitor hiring a former employee", "paragraph_id": "para_1379" }, { "text": "who had access to the trade secrets and (2) the similarity", "paragraph_id": "para_1380" }, { "text": "of the products. Oakwood Labs. v. Thanoo, 999 F.3d 892,", "paragraph_id": "para_1381" }, { "text": "912–13 (3d Cir. 2021) (noting the timing of the former em-", "paragraph_id": "para_1382" }, { "text": "ployee’s employment, the former employee’s deception", "paragraph_id": "para_1383" }, { "text": "about the work he would engage in at the competitor’s com-", "paragraph_id": "para_1384" }, { "text": "pany, the competitor’s lack of experience in the highly spe-", "paragraph_id": "para_1385" }, { "text": "cialized field, the competitor’s “rapid success” in developing", "paragraph_id": "para_1386" }, { "text": "the competing products that took the former employer", "paragraph_id": "para_1387" }, { "text": "“nearly 20 years to develop,” and “the comparatively insig-", "paragraph_id": "para_1388" }, { "text": "nificant financial investment” the competitor put into the", "paragraph_id": "para_1389" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 38 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1390" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 5", "paragraph_id": "para_1391" }, { "text": "did not affirmatively hold that “access to the alleged trade", "paragraph_id": "para_1392" }, { "text": "secrets through a former employee of the trade secret", "paragraph_id": "para_1393" }, { "text": "owner” meets the access prong. Contra Maj. 14. Rather,", "paragraph_id": "para_1394" }, { "text": "we concluded that “the district court prematurely dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_1395" }, { "text": "missed [the trade-secret holder’s] evidence on access and", "paragraph_id": "para_1396" }, { "text": "similarity” because there were genuine issues of material", "paragraph_id": "para_1397" }, { "text": "fact. Leggett, 285 F.3d at 1361.", "paragraph_id": "para_1398" }, { "text": "The majority’s reliance on Seatrax to support its appli-", "paragraph_id": "para_1399" }, { "text": "cation of the access-plus-similarity framework fares no bet-", "paragraph_id": "para_1400" }, { "text": "ter. In Seatrax, the defendant not only previously had", "paragraph_id": "para_1401" }, { "text": "access to the trade secrets, but there was also evidence that", "paragraph_id": "para_1402" }, { "text": "the trade-secret holder knew the defendant had wrongly", "paragraph_id": "para_1403" }, { "text": "taken the trade secrets. Seatrax, Inc. v. Sonbeck Int’l, Inc.,", "paragraph_id": "para_1404" }, { "text": "200 F.3d 358, 365 (5th Cir. 2000) (noting trade secret draw-", "paragraph_id": "para_1405" }, { "text": "ings were missing from premises). And while the majority", "paragraph_id": "para_1406" }, { "text": "cites Sokol, that case undermines the majority’s character-", "paragraph_id": "para_1407" }, { "text": "ization (and application) of the access-plus-similarity", "paragraph_id": "para_1408" }, { "text": "framework. There, even though the trade-secret holder", "paragraph_id": "para_1409" }, { "text": "knew the misappropriated product “was similar to its own,”", "paragraph_id": "para_1410" }, { "text": "“these apprehensions were still just concerns and suspi-", "paragraph_id": "para_1411" }, { "text": "cions rather than knowledge of misuse.” Sokol Crystal", "paragraph_id": "para_1412" }, { "text": "Prods., Inc. v. DSC Commc’ns Corp., 15 F.3d 1427, 1430", "paragraph_id": "para_1413" }, { "text": "(7th Cir. 1994) (emphasis in original) (concluding the stat-", "paragraph_id": "para_1414" }, { "text": "ute of limitations did not start accruing until the misappro-", "paragraph_id": "para_1415" }, { "text": "priated products were sold to a third party).", "paragraph_id": "para_1416" }, { "text": "The majority also, in my view, does not accurately char-", "paragraph_id": "para_1417" }, { "text": "acterize Insulet’s alleged concessions during oral argu-", "paragraph_id": "para_1418" }, { "text": "ment. Maj. 14. The majority cites Insulet’s agreement that", "paragraph_id": "para_1419" }, { "text": "development of the products). The majority also suggests", "paragraph_id": "para_1420" }, { "text": "that Harbor Business Compliance Corp. v. Firstbase.io,", "paragraph_id": "para_1421" }, { "text": "Inc., 152 F.4th 516, 530 (3d Cir. 2025), addressed the rele-", "paragraph_id": "para_1422" }, { "text": "vant pleading standard in trade secret cases. Maj. 11. Not", "paragraph_id": "para_1423" }, { "text": "so. That case dealt with a denial of a renewed motion for", "paragraph_id": "para_1424" }, { "text": "judgment as a matter of law.", "paragraph_id": "para_1425" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 39 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1426" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.6", "paragraph_id": "para_1427" }, { "text": "the access-plus-similarity framework applies in this case,", "paragraph_id": "para_1428" }, { "text": "but that agreement does not extend to how the majority", "paragraph_id": "para_1429" }, { "text": "defines and applies that framework. According to Insulet,", "paragraph_id": "para_1430" }, { "text": "the access prong could not be met here because Insulet did", "paragraph_id": "para_1431" }, { "text": "not know that its former employees had taken the trade-", "paragraph_id": "para_1432" }, { "text": "secret documents with them and given them to EOFlow be-", "paragraph_id": "para_1433" }, { "text": "fore the critical date. Oral Arg. at 28:27–29:49.", "paragraph_id": "para_1434" }, { "text": "Finally, from a practical standpoint, the majority’s ac-", "paragraph_id": "para_1435" }, { "text": "cess-plus-similarity framework would arguably produce", "paragraph_id": "para_1436" }, { "text": "absurd results. See Sokol, 15 F.3d at 1430 (“At least in the", "paragraph_id": "para_1437" }, { "text": "commercial setting at issue here, suspicion and fear are not", "paragraph_id": "para_1438" }, { "text": "sufficient predicates for launching a lawsuit, and to file an", "paragraph_id": "para_1439" }, { "text": "action with no other basis would offend norms articulated", "paragraph_id": "para_1440" }, { "text": "in rules like Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11.” (cleaned", "paragraph_id": "para_1441" }, { "text": "up)). Employees frequently move between companies", "paragraph_id": "para_1442" }, { "text": "working on similar products. Under the majority’s frame-", "paragraph_id": "para_1443" }, { "text": "work, a plaintiff’s statute-of-limitations clock starts prem-", "paragraph_id": "para_1444" }, { "text": "aturely whenever a former employee joins a competitor", "paragraph_id": "para_1445" }, { "text": "that makes a superficially similar product. Clearly, that", "paragraph_id": "para_1446" }, { "text": "cannot be correct.", "paragraph_id": "para_1447" }, { "text": "B", "paragraph_id": "para_1448" }, { "text": "Applying what I consider to be the proper access-plus-", "paragraph_id": "para_1449" }, { "text": "similarity framework, I would conclude that ample evi-", "paragraph_id": "para_1450" }, { "text": "dence supports the jury’s finding that Insulet did not dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_1451" }, { "text": "cover, nor reasonably should have discovered, the", "paragraph_id": "para_1452" }, { "text": "misappropriation of the asserted trade secrets before the", "paragraph_id": "para_1453" }, { "text": "critical date—August 2020. Yet, rather than view the evi-", "paragraph_id": "para_1454" }, { "text": "dence in the light most favorable to Insulet—as the govern-", "paragraph_id": "para_1455" }, { "text": "ing standard of review here requires, Dimanche v.", "paragraph_id": "para_1456" }, { "text": "Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, 893 F.3d 1, 8", "paragraph_id": "para_1457" }, { "text": "(1st Cir. 2018)—the majority flips the standard on its head", "paragraph_id": "para_1458" }, { "text": "and accepts EOFlow’s view of the facts over Insulet’s.", "paragraph_id": "para_1459" }, { "text": "1", "paragraph_id": "para_1460" }, { "text": "As to the access prong, the majority concludes that “un-", "paragraph_id": "para_1461", "court_paragraph": 1 }, { "text": "disputed facts” demonstrate that by March 2019, Insulet", "paragraph_id": "para_1462" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 40 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1463" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 7", "paragraph_id": "para_1464" }, { "text": "“had sufficient knowledge to allege that EOFlow hired a", "paragraph_id": "para_1465" }, { "text": "former employee to work on the EOPatch 2 who had", "paragraph_id": "para_1466" }, { "text": "knowledge of and access to Insulet’s trade secrets.”", "paragraph_id": "para_1467" }, { "text": "Maj. 21. That conclusion is doubly flawed. First, starting", "paragraph_id": "para_1468" }, { "text": "the statute-of-limitations clock by March 2019 is too early.", "paragraph_id": "para_1469" }, { "text": "As discussed above, the mere fact that Insulet’s former em-", "paragraph_id": "para_1470" }, { "text": "ployee had knowledge of and access to Insulet’s trade se-", "paragraph_id": "para_1471" }, { "text": "crets and subsequently worked on EOFlow’s EOPatch 2", "paragraph_id": "para_1472" }, { "text": "alone is insufficient to satisfy the access prong. And the", "paragraph_id": "para_1473" }, { "text": "two paragraphs of the complaint the majority cites, Maj. 21", "paragraph_id": "para_1474" }, { "text": "(quoting J.A. 321–22 ¶¶ 40–41), only show that Insulet’s", "paragraph_id": "para_1475" }, { "text": "former employees knew about the trade secrets while at In-", "paragraph_id": "para_1476" }, { "text": "sulet.", "paragraph_id": "para_1477" }, { "text": "Second, there are disputed facts concerning the access", "paragraph_id": "para_1478" }, { "text": "prong that were properly before the jury. For example, In-", "paragraph_id": "para_1479" }, { "text": "sulet’s senior executive Eric Benjamin testified that “[i]t’s", "paragraph_id": "para_1480" }, { "text": "common practice to hire folks who have relevant industry", "paragraph_id": "para_1481" }, { "text": "experience. We hire folks for their experience, and if they", "paragraph_id": "para_1482" }, { "text": "join us, we expect them to abide by whatever confidential-", "paragraph_id": "para_1483" }, { "text": "ity requirements they had from a prior employer.”", "paragraph_id": "para_1484" }, { "text": "J.A. 20584 (119:12–19); see also J.A. 20584 (119:20–22).4", "paragraph_id": "para_1485" }, { "text": "And it was not until after the critical date that Insulet", "paragraph_id": "para_1486" }, { "text": "knew its former employees had wrongly transferred thou-", "paragraph_id": "para_1487" }, { "text": "sands of confidential Insulet documents to their personal", "paragraph_id": "para_1488" }, { "text": "computers and later provided them to EOFlow. See", "paragraph_id": "para_1489" }, { "text": "J.A. 20540 (148:17–24); J.A. 20584 (119:12–22); J.A. 20586", "paragraph_id": "para_1490" }, { "text": "(126:21–127:3); J.A. 20587 (130:25–131:7); J.A. 20588", "paragraph_id": "para_1491" }, { "text": "(134:17–136:11); J.A. 20598 (20:13–15); J.A. 20618–19", "paragraph_id": "para_1492" }, { "text": "(100:4–103:2); J.A. 21119 (238:20–239:2); J.A. 21327", "paragraph_id": "para_1493" }, { "text": "(61:22–62:2). Subsequent revelations prompted Insulet to", "paragraph_id": "para_1494" }, { "text": "amend its complaint further to allege that during the", "paragraph_id": "para_1495" }, { "text": "course of Insulet’s former employees’ employment and", "paragraph_id": "para_1496" }, { "text": "4 To suggest otherwise would undermine confidenti-", "paragraph_id": "para_1497" }, { "text": "ality or nondisclosure provisions that are widely used in", "paragraph_id": "para_1498" }, { "text": "employment contracts.", "paragraph_id": "para_1499" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 41 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1500" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.8", "paragraph_id": "para_1501" }, { "text": "consultancy agreements, “Defendants DiIanni and Wels-", "paragraph_id": "para_1502" }, { "text": "ford improperly transferred thousands of confidential In-", "paragraph_id": "para_1503" }, { "text": "sulet documents to their personal computers” and later", "paragraph_id": "para_1504" }, { "text": "provided those documents to EOFlow. Amended Com-", "paragraph_id": "para_1505" }, { "text": "plaint ¶¶ 50, 61, Insulet Corp. v. EOFlow, Co.,", "paragraph_id": "para_1506" }, { "text": "No. 23-11780 (D. Mass. Oct. 27, 2023), Dkt. No. 159. Those", "paragraph_id": "para_1507" }, { "text": "allegations were not in the original complaint.5", "paragraph_id": "para_1508" }, { "text": "2", "paragraph_id": "para_1509" }, { "text": "As to the similarity prong, the majority concludes that", "paragraph_id": "para_1510", "court_paragraph": 2 }, { "text": "the “undisputed evidence establishes that the statute of", "paragraph_id": "para_1511" }, { "text": "limitations expired with respect to each trade secret” be-", "paragraph_id": "para_1512" }, { "text": "fore the critical date and “that the jury’s verdict to the con-", "paragraph_id": "para_1513" }, { "text": "trary was unsupported by substantial evidence.” Maj. 28.", "paragraph_id": "para_1514" }, { "text": "To reach that conclusion, the majority conducts its own", "paragraph_id": "para_1515" }, { "text": "evaluation of the credibility of witnesses and the weight of", "paragraph_id": "para_1516" }, { "text": "the evidence by treating all evidence in favor of EOFlow as", "paragraph_id": "para_1517" }, { "text": "undisputed (it was not) and entirely credible (which is for", "paragraph_id": "para_1518" }, { "text": "the jury to decide), and any contrary evidence presented by", "paragraph_id": "para_1519" }, { "text": "Insulet as allegedly conclusory or too general to support the", "paragraph_id": "para_1520" }, { "text": "jury’s verdict. On this record, a reasonable jury could have", "paragraph_id": "para_1521" }, { "text": "found in favor of Insulet.", "paragraph_id": "para_1522" }, { "text": "The majority liberally cites Insulet’s complaint and ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_1523" }, { "text": "pears to accept the (unproven) premise that the allegations", "paragraph_id": "para_1524" }, { "text": "in Insulet’s complaint were known or should have been", "paragraph_id": "para_1525" }, { "text": "known to Insulet more than three years before it was filed.", "paragraph_id": "para_1526" }, { "text": "See Maj. 23–26; see also Appellants’ Br. 36. Yet the allega-", "paragraph_id": "para_1527" }, { "text": "tions in the complaint concerning events before the critical", "paragraph_id": "para_1528" }, { "text": "date do not necessarily reflect the moment when Insulet", "paragraph_id": "para_1529" }, { "text": "should have known that the misappropriation occurred", "paragraph_id": "para_1530" }, { "text": "(absent some statement in the complaint suggesting other-", "paragraph_id": "para_1531" }, { "text": "wise). Rather than drawing unwarranted inferences from", "paragraph_id": "para_1532" }, { "text": "the complaint, I would instead defer to the results of the", "paragraph_id": "para_1533" }, { "text": "5 Whether Insulet’s original complaint was suffi-", "paragraph_id": "para_1534" }, { "text": "ciently pleaded is not before this court.", "paragraph_id": "para_1535" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 42 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1536" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 9", "paragraph_id": "para_1537" }, { "text": "jury trial (including the facts developed at trial) on this is-", "paragraph_id": "para_1538" }, { "text": "sue. And rather than draw inferences from the complaint", "paragraph_id": "para_1539" }, { "text": "that are unfavorable to Insulet, I would view the facts de-", "paragraph_id": "para_1540" }, { "text": "veloped at trial in the light most favorable to Insulet—the", "paragraph_id": "para_1541" }, { "text": "prevailing party—as is required by our standard of review.", "paragraph_id": "para_1542" }, { "text": "For example, the majority relies on side-by-side images", "paragraph_id": "para_1543" }, { "text": "of Insulet’s Omnipod and EOFlow’s EOPatch 2 in the com-", "paragraph_id": "para_1544" }, { "text": "plaint and assumes those similarities were known before", "paragraph_id": "para_1545" }, { "text": "the critical date. Maj. 23–26. Facts developed at trial,", "paragraph_id": "para_1546" }, { "text": "however, show that EOFlow was evasive when Insulet ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_1547" }, { "text": "proached EOFlow’s trade show booth and that EOFlow pre-", "paragraph_id": "para_1548" }, { "text": "vented Insulet from inspecting the small device and its", "paragraph_id": "para_1549" }, { "text": "intricate inner workings up close. J.A. 20583 (116:12–15),", "paragraph_id": "para_1550" }, { "text": "J.A. 20584 (117:19–118:3); see also J.A. 41453 (“[n]eed[ed]", "paragraph_id": "para_1551" }, { "text": "to keep [Insulet] guessing on our corporate plans”);", "paragraph_id": "para_1552" }, { "text": "J.A. 41605 (“[j]ust need[ed] to find out what [Insulet]", "paragraph_id": "para_1553" }, { "text": "want[ed] while keeping a low profile on our own plans”). I", "paragraph_id": "para_1554" }, { "text": "therefore don’t see how the majority can credibly state that", "paragraph_id": "para_1555" }, { "text": "“[u]ncontradicted testimony and documents that were ei-", "paragraph_id": "para_1556" }, { "text": "ther known to Insulet or publicly available showed that", "paragraph_id": "para_1557" }, { "text": "each of these features [in the complaint] was known or", "paragraph_id": "para_1558" }, { "text": "should have been known by Insulet before the critical", "paragraph_id": "para_1559" }, { "text": "date.” Maj. 24.", "paragraph_id": "para_1560" }, { "text": "There was additional evidence presented to the jury", "paragraph_id": "para_1561" }, { "text": "showing that Insulet reasonably should not have known", "paragraph_id": "para_1562" }, { "text": "about EOFlow’s misappropriation before the critical date.", "paragraph_id": "para_1563" }, { "text": "For example, the similarities in appearance between the", "paragraph_id": "para_1564" }, { "text": "Omnipod and EOPatch 2 did not necessarily mean that", "paragraph_id": "para_1565" }, { "text": "EOFlow misappropriated any trade secrets, especially", "paragraph_id": "para_1566" }, { "text": "given the type and size of technology at issue here. See,", "paragraph_id": "para_1567" }, { "text": "e.g., J.A. 20541 (149:8–150:6) (Mr. Benjamin testifying “the", "paragraph_id": "para_1568" }, { "text": "fact that EOPatch [2] had similarities to the way” the Om-", "paragraph_id": "para_1569" }, { "text": "nipod looked did not make Insulet think EOFlow had sto-", "paragraph_id": "para_1570" }, { "text": "len Insulet’s trade secrets because “[p]eople are trying to", "paragraph_id": "para_1571" }, { "text": "build patch pumps, they’re all going to be in that general", "paragraph_id": "para_1572" }, { "text": "size and shape”); see also J.A. 20586 (126:21–127:3),", "paragraph_id": "para_1573" }, { "text": "J.A. 20587 (130:25–131:7), J.A. 20588 (134:17–135:12).", "paragraph_id": "para_1574" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 43 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1575" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.10", "paragraph_id": "para_1576" }, { "text": "And before the critical date, the publicly available infor-", "paragraph_id": "para_1577" }, { "text": "mation suggested that EOFlow was working on products", "paragraph_id": "para_1578" }, { "text": "that used technology different from the Omnipod, reinforc-", "paragraph_id": "para_1579" }, { "text": "ing Insulet’s understanding that EOFlow was lawfully de-", "paragraph_id": "para_1580" }, { "text": "veloping a device using different technology. See, e.g.,", "paragraph_id": "para_1581" }, { "text": "J.A. 20587 (130:25–131:7) (“As of 2020 there was still noth-", "paragraph_id": "para_1582" }, { "text": "ing to suggest that EOFlow was doing something different", "paragraph_id": "para_1583" }, { "text": "than following a different technology path to produce a", "paragraph_id": "para_1584" }, { "text": "product that was a lot like Omnipod.”); see also J.A. 54333,", "paragraph_id": "para_1585" }, { "text": "J.A. 21041–42 (102:21–106:22). EOFlow’s witness also tes-", "paragraph_id": "para_1586" }, { "text": "tified that looking at the samples provided at the 2018 and", "paragraph_id": "para_1587" }, { "text": "2019 ADA conferences, he could not “see the method by", "paragraph_id": "para_1588" }, { "text": "which the cannula was manufactured by looking at these", "paragraph_id": "para_1589" }, { "text": "devices” and “the cannula was cut off of the samples that", "paragraph_id": "para_1590" }, { "text": "were used at the ADA conferences.” J.A. 20877", "paragraph_id": "para_1591" }, { "text": "(111:18–23); see also J.A. 20780 (137:7–14). Thus, there", "paragraph_id": "para_1592" }, { "text": "were disputed facts properly before the jury.", "paragraph_id": "para_1593" }, { "text": "The majority belittles Insulet employees’ testimony as", "paragraph_id": "para_1594" }, { "text": "“conclusory and subjective.” Maj. 34. As discussed above,", "paragraph_id": "para_1595" }, { "text": "I disagree that the testimony is conclusory. And of course", "paragraph_id": "para_1596" }, { "text": "Insulet employees’ testimony was “subjective,” just as", "paragraph_id": "para_1597" }, { "text": "EOFlow employees’ testimony was subjective. Both sides", "paragraph_id": "para_1598" }, { "text": "had opportunities to cross-examine each other’s witnesses,", "paragraph_id": "para_1599" }, { "text": "and it was for the jury, not this court, to weigh the credibil-", "paragraph_id": "para_1600" }, { "text": "ity of the witnesses’ statements.", "paragraph_id": "para_1601" }, { "text": "The majority also holds that Insulet could have discov-", "paragraph_id": "para_1602" }, { "text": "ered the misappropriation if only it had pored over a pre-", "paragraph_id": "para_1603" }, { "text": "dominantly Korean-language, 500-page prospectus filed", "paragraph_id": "para_1604" }, { "text": "with Korean financial regulators in July 2020—mere", "paragraph_id": "para_1605" }, { "text": "weeks before the critical date of August 3, 2020.", "paragraph_id": "para_1606" }, { "text": "Maj. 24–26. The standard is reasonable diligence, not", "paragraph_id": "para_1607" }, { "text": "maximum feasible diligence. There was also a factual dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_1608" }, { "text": "pute as to whether the prospectus contained a sufficient", "paragraph_id": "para_1609" }, { "text": "level of relevant details to indicate possible misappropria-", "paragraph_id": "para_1610" }, { "text": "tion. See J.A. 21041–42 (104:16–106:22).", "paragraph_id": "para_1611" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 44 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1612" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 11", "paragraph_id": "para_1613" }, { "text": "Purportedly applying the discovery rule, the majority", "paragraph_id": "para_1614" }, { "text": "concludes that the events that transpired at (or shortly af-", "paragraph_id": "para_1615" }, { "text": "ter) the 2018 ADA conference “caused Insulet to start in-", "paragraph_id": "para_1616" }, { "text": "vestigating.” Maj. 23. The majority points to the fact that", "paragraph_id": "para_1617" }, { "text": "“Insulet personnel visited the EOFlow website twenty", "paragraph_id": "para_1618" }, { "text": "times,” and “EOFlow attended another ADA conference in", "paragraph_id": "para_1619" }, { "text": "2019.” Maj. 23. It was for the jury to weigh that evidence", "paragraph_id": "para_1620" }, { "text": "and determine whether these so-called investigations re-", "paragraph_id": "para_1621" }, { "text": "sulted in Insulet discovering, or if Insulet reasonably", "paragraph_id": "para_1622" }, { "text": "should have discovered, the trade-secret misappropriation", "paragraph_id": "para_1623" }, { "text": "before the critical date.", "paragraph_id": "para_1624" }, { "text": "* * *", "paragraph_id": "para_1625" }, { "text": "The majority’s critique of this dissent for failing to con-", "paragraph_id": "para_1626" }, { "text": "duct the fact-intensive analysis just proves my point.", "paragraph_id": "para_1627" }, { "text": "Maj. 33. That’s not this court’s role. When reviewing chal-", "paragraph_id": "para_1628" }, { "text": "lenges to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the", "paragraph_id": "para_1629" }, { "text": "jury’s verdict, we must view the evidence in the light most", "paragraph_id": "para_1630" }, { "text": "favorable to Insulet and draw “all factual inferences and", "paragraph_id": "para_1631" }, { "text": "resolving all credibility determinations in [its] favor.” Di-", "paragraph_id": "para_1632" }, { "text": "manche, 893 F.3d at 4 n.2. The analysis the majority seeks", "paragraph_id": "para_1633" }, { "text": "from the dissent was for the jury to conduct, not this court.", "paragraph_id": "para_1634" }, { "text": "III", "paragraph_id": "para_1635" }, { "text": "I write separately to address the occlusion-detection al-", "paragraph_id": "para_1636" }, { "text": "gorithm trade secret. The majority concludes that this", "paragraph_id": "para_1637" }, { "text": "trade secret is time-barred on a theory not advanced by", "paragraph_id": "para_1638" }, { "text": "EOFlow on appeal. Maj. 14–19, 27–28. In any event, I", "paragraph_id": "para_1639" }, { "text": "don’t think we need to reach that theory if the majority had", "paragraph_id": "para_1640" }, { "text": "properly applied the discovery rule on these facts (and in", "paragraph_id": "para_1641" }, { "text": "this posture).", "paragraph_id": "para_1642" }, { "text": "To conclude that the occlusion-detection algorithm", "paragraph_id": "para_1643" }, { "text": "trade secret is time-barred, the majority decides what ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_1644" }, { "text": "pears to be an issue of first impression in the First Circuit:", "paragraph_id": "para_1645" }, { "text": "whether the statute of limitations inquiry should be evalu-", "paragraph_id": "para_1646" }, { "text": "ated on a trade-secret-by-trade-secret basis. The majority", "paragraph_id": "para_1647" }, { "text": "concludes that the facts here “point[] toward a single", "paragraph_id": "para_1648" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 45 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1649" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD.12", "paragraph_id": "para_1650" }, { "text": "accrual date for Insulet’s trade secret misappropriation", "paragraph_id": "para_1651" }, { "text": "claim against EOFlow.” Maj. 19.", "paragraph_id": "para_1652" }, { "text": "I am uncomfortable embracing a theory not advanced", "paragraph_id": "para_1653" }, { "text": "by EOFlow and that was not briefed before this court, par-", "paragraph_id": "para_1654" }, { "text": "ticularly on an issue of first impression in the First Circuit.", "paragraph_id": "para_1655" }, { "text": "The district court instructed the jury to analyze the stat-", "paragraph_id": "para_1656" }, { "text": "ute-of-limitations inquiry trade-secret-by-trade-secret,", "paragraph_id": "para_1657" }, { "text": "J.A. 21392 (173:12–13; 174:14–15), and EOFlow did not", "paragraph_id": "para_1658" }, { "text": "challenge those instructions on appeal. I wouldn’t have", "paragraph_id": "para_1659" }, { "text": "gone where the parties did not.", "paragraph_id": "para_1660" }, { "text": "The majority suggests it’s duty-bound to address this", "paragraph_id": "para_1661" }, { "text": "issue because “whether a party is entitled to JMOL does", "paragraph_id": "para_1662" }, { "text": "not depend on how the jury was instructed. The inquiry is", "paragraph_id": "para_1663" }, { "text": "whether under the controlling law, the defendant is enti-", "paragraph_id": "para_1664" }, { "text": "tled to JMOL.” Maj. 15 (cleaned up). But the majority isn’t", "paragraph_id": "para_1665" }, { "text": "consistent in deciding when to address the proper “control-", "paragraph_id": "para_1666" }, { "text": "ling law.” Later in its analysis, it declines to address the", "paragraph_id": "para_1667" }, { "text": "burden-shifting jury instruction because neither party", "paragraph_id": "para_1668" }, { "text": "challenged that instruction on appeal. See Maj. 20.", "paragraph_id": "para_1669" }, { "text": "In any event, I do not believe we need to reach this is-", "paragraph_id": "para_1670" }, { "text": "sue because, in my view, under the proper application of", "paragraph_id": "para_1671" }, { "text": "the discovery rule, none of the trade secrets are time-", "paragraph_id": "para_1672" }, { "text": "barred. See Part II. The occlusion-detection algorithm", "paragraph_id": "para_1673" }, { "text": "trade secret was not alleged in Insulet’s original complaint.", "paragraph_id": "para_1674" }, { "text": "Insulet discovered this misappropriation during discovery.", "paragraph_id": "para_1675" }, { "text": "And EOFlow only used Insulet’s occlusion-detection algo-", "paragraph_id": "para_1676" }, { "text": "rithm trade secret while developing the EOPatch 2; it was", "paragraph_id": "para_1677" }, { "text": "not used in the final product. J.A. 72–73. Even EOFlow’s", "paragraph_id": "para_1678" }, { "text": "witnesses admitted that there was “nothing proprietary", "paragraph_id": "para_1679" }, { "text": "about the Omnipod algorithm [i.e., the occlusion-detection-", "paragraph_id": "para_1680" }, { "text": "algorithm trade secret] reflected in” the Korean-language", "paragraph_id": "para_1681" }, { "text": "prospectus, J.A. 21198 (85:15–87:7), nor would someone", "paragraph_id": "para_1682" }, { "text": "simply looking at a sample of the EOPatch 2 at the 2018 or", "paragraph_id": "para_1683" }, { "text": "2019 ADA conferences have been alerted to suspect misap-", "paragraph_id": "para_1684" }, { "text": "propriation of the occlusion-detection-algorithm trade se-", "paragraph_id": "para_1685" }, { "text": "cret, J.A. 20877 (111:4–23). I would conclude that given", "paragraph_id": "para_1686" }, { "text": "Case: 25-1807 Document: 62 Page: 46 Filed: 05/28/2026", "paragraph_id": "para_1687" }, { "text": "INSULET CORP. v. EOFLOW, CO. LTD. 13", "paragraph_id": "para_1688" }, { "text": "the trial record before the jury, the district court did not err", "paragraph_id": "para_1689" }, { "text": "in denying EOFlow’s JMOL motion as to the occlusion-de-", "paragraph_id": "para_1690" }, { "text": "tection algorithm trade secret.", "paragraph_id": "para_1691" }, { "text": "IV", "paragraph_id": "para_1692" }, { "text": "Because I conclude that substantial evidence supports", "paragraph_id": "para_1693" }, { "text": "the jury verdict for all asserted trade secrets, I would have", "paragraph_id": "para_1694" }, { "text": "reached EOFlow’s arguments concerning (1) the specificity", "paragraph_id": "para_1695" }, { "text": "of Insulet’s design history file trade secret, (2) the district", "paragraph_id": "para_1696" }, { "text": "court’s reasonable measures jury instruction, and (3) its", "paragraph_id": "para_1697" }, { "text": "challenge to the damages award. On the design-history-", "paragraph_id": "para_1698" }, { "text": "file-trade-secret issue, I would have agreed with EOFlow", "paragraph_id": "para_1699" }, { "text": "that Insulet’s design-history-file trade secret was severely", "paragraph_id": "para_1700" }, { "text": "overbroad. I also see no error in the district court’s jury", "paragraph_id": "para_1701" }, { "text": "instructions related to reasonable measures. On the dam-", "paragraph_id": "para_1702" }, { "text": "ages issue, I would have held that the district court", "paragraph_id": "para_1703" }, { "text": "properly awarded Insulet avoided-cost damages based on", "paragraph_id": "para_1704" }, { "text": "the research and development costs EOFlow saved by mis-", "paragraph_id": "para_1705" }, { "text": "appropriating Insulet’s trade secrets. These are costs", "paragraph_id": "para_1706" }, { "text": "EOFlow would have otherwise incurred to possess and use", "paragraph_id": "para_1707" }, { "text": "the trade secrets. That award is legally permissible and", "paragraph_id": "para_1708" }, { "text": "not duplicative. I also see no abuse of discretion by the dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_1709" }, { "text": "trict court in imposing joint-and-several liability on", "paragraph_id": "para_1710" }, { "text": "Mr. Kim.", "paragraph_id": "para_1711" }, { "text": "CONCLUSION", "paragraph_id": "para_1712" }, { "text": "The jury’s role as fact-finder lies at the heart of our ju-", "paragraph_id": "para_1713" }, { "text": "dicial system. Both Insulet and EOFlow put forth evidence", "paragraph_id": "para_1714" }, { "text": "supporting their respective positions concerning whether", "paragraph_id": "para_1715" }, { "text": "Insulet should have discovered EOFlow’s misappropriation", "paragraph_id": "para_1716" }, { "text": "before the critical date. The majority’s characterization of", "paragraph_id": "para_1717" }, { "text": "EOFlow’s evidence as “undisputed” or “uncontradicted” is", "paragraph_id": "para_1718" }, { "text": "unsupported and would undermine the critical fact-finding", "paragraph_id": "para_1719" }, { "text": "role of the jury. 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