2020-13516. Certain Rolled-Edge Rigid Plastic Food Trays; Notice of Institution of Investigation  

  • Start Preamble

    AGENCY:

    U.S. International Trade Commission.

    ACTION:

    Notice.

    SUMMARY:

    Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on May 18, 2020, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, on behalf of Clearly Clean Products, LLC of South Windsor, Connecticut and Converter Manufacturing, LLC of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 based upon the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain rolled-edge rigid plastic food trays by reason of infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 9,908,281 (“the '281 patent”) and U.S. Patent No. 10,562,680 (“the '680 patent”). The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists as required by the applicable Federal Statute.

    The complainants request that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.

    ADDRESSES:

    The complaint, except for any confidential information contained therein, may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. For help accessing EDIS, please email EDIS3Help@usitc.gov. Hearing impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD Start Printed Page 37690terminal on (202) 205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at (202) 205-2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server at https://www.usitc.gov.

    Start Further Info

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Pathenia M. Proctor, The Office of Unfair Import Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, telephone (202) 205-2560.

    Authority: The authority for institution of this investigation is contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, and in section 210.10 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10 (2020).

    Scope of Investigation: Having considered the complaint, the U.S. International Trade Commission, on June 17, 2020, ordered that

    (1) Pursuant to subsection (b) of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, an investigation be instituted to determine whether there is a violation of subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 337 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, or the sale within the United States after importation of certain products identified in paragraph (2) by reason of infringement of one or more of claim 9 of the '281 patent and claims 1, 12, 20, and 21 of the '680 patent; and whether an industry in the United States exists as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337;

    (2) Pursuant to section 210.10(b)(1) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10(b)(1), the plain language description of the accused products or category of accused products, which defines the scope of the investigation, is “open-topped food containers made of rigid plastic and having a smooth outer periphery attributable to turning or rolling of the rigid plastic at or near it its peripheral edge”;

    (3) For the purpose of the investigation so instituted, the following are hereby named as parties upon which this notice of investigation shall be served:

    (a) The complainants are:

    Clearly Clean Products, LLC, 225 Oakland Road, Suite 401, South Windsor, CT 06074

    Converter Manufacturing, LLC, 603 Industrial Drive, Orwigsburg, PA 17961

    (b) The respondents are the following entities alleged to be in violation of section 337, and are the parties upon which the complaint is to be served:

    Eco Food Pak (USA), Inc., 8719 Enterprise Way, Chino, CA 91710

    Ningbo Linhua Plastic Co., Ltd., No. 13, Dongfan Road, Xiwu, Fenghua 315000, China

    (c) The Office of Unfair Import Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20436; and

    (4) For the investigation so instituted, the Chief Administrative Law Judge, U.S. International Trade Commission, shall designate the presiding Administrative Law Judge.

    The Office of Unfair Import Investigations will not participate as a party in this investigation.

    Responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation must be submitted by the named respondents in accordance with section 210.13 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.13. Pursuant to 19 CFR 201.16(e) and 210.13(a), such responses will be considered by the Commission if received not later than 20 days after the date of service by the Commission of the complaint and the notice of investigation. Extensions of time for submitting responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation will not be granted unless good cause therefor is shown.

    Failure of a respondent to file a timely response to each allegation in the complaint and in this notice may be deemed to constitute a waiver of the right to appear and contest the allegations of the complaint and this notice, and to authorize the administrative law judge and the Commission, without further notice to the respondent, to find the facts to be as alleged in the complaint and this notice and to enter an initial determination and a final determination containing such findings, and may result in the issuance of an exclusion order or a cease and desist order or both directed against the respondent.

    Start Signature

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: June 18, 2020.

    Lisa Barton,

    Secretary to the Commission.

    End Signature End Further Info End Preamble

    [FR Doc. 2020-13516 Filed 6-22-20; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 7020-02-P

Document Information

Published:
06/23/2020
Department:
International Trade Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
2020-13516
Pages:
37689-37690 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Investigation No. 337-TA-1203
PDF File:
2020-13516.Pdf