Apple vs. Samsung patent trial judge says lawyer William Lee must be on drugs

The judge in a patent trial involving Apple and Samsung has said iPhone maker’s lawyer William Lee must be on drugs if he thought she would accept his list of potential witnesses.

William Lee had named 22 people he wanted to rebut testimony given by Samsung’s choice of experts.

“Unless you’re smoking crack you know these witnesses aren’t going to be called” said Judge Lucy Koh.

William Lee replied: “Your honor, I’m not smoking crack. I can promise you that.”

The clash, reported by the Verge news site, took place close to the end of the trial after William Lee presented a 75-page document detailing the witnesses.

The judge in a patent trial involving Apple and Samsung has said iPhone maker's lawyer William Lee must be on drugs if he thought she would accept his list of potential witnesses

The judge had previously made it clear she wanted closing arguments to be presented next week. She has given each side a maximum of 25 hours to make its case.

Of that time Apple has less than four hours of witness testimony remaining on its clock, and William Lee said he honestly believed he could cover all the people he had named within that period.

The move could potentially have made it harder for Samsung’s legal team to prepare.

Samsung called on damages expert Michael Wagner shortly before the exchange, who said Apple had overestimated Samsung’s profit margins.

His evidence was intended to undermine the US firm’s claim that it was owed $2.5 billion in damages.

Under cross examination Michael Wagner acknowledged that his analysis had been based on data provided by Samsung as part of its response to Apple’s patent infringement accusations.

In addition to denying the allegations the South Korean firm is also pursuing its rival for royalty payments.

Judge Lucy Koh’s outburst is not the first time she has expressed anger at the two sides’ behavior in the case.

Earlier the judge chided Samsung’s lawyer John Quinn for approving a press release which publicized evidence she had ruled inadmissible in court.

She had also demanded each legal team write out their legal arguments after they wrangled over whether a witness should be allowed to present certain evidence, saying: “I don’t trust what any lawyer tells me in this courtroom. I want to see actual papers.”

Despite the potential large payouts involved in the case the firms’ share prices do not appear to have suffered.

Apple’s stock has closed at a record high of $636.34 after rising 6.9% since the start of the trial.

Samsung’s shares have gained 5.5% over the same period.