In this litigation between two giants of the office copying industry, which was begun in 1973 when SCM Corporation (SCM) brought an action against Xerox Corporation (Xerox) in the District of Connecticut seeking damages for alleged antitrust violations, and declaratory and injunctive relief with respect to certain patent and license agreements, Xerox seeks to appeal from two pretrial discovery orders issued by Judge Jon O. Newman with respect to documents and information claimed to be protected from disclosure by the attorney-client privilege. In the alternative, Xerox petitions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1651 and Rule 21, F.R.A.P., for a writ of mandamus staying the operation and effect of the orders.
In recent years we have repeatedly sought to make clear that in the absence of a certification pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) or of a showing of “persistent disregard of the Rules of Civil Procedure,” Will v. United States,
No such showing is made here and Judge Newman understandably refused to certify his rulings for appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b). This case does not present legal questions of first impression or of “extraordinary significance,”
The attempted appeal is dismissed for lack of appellate jurisdiction. The petition for a writ of mandamus is denied.
