Microsoft has asked Western District of Texas Judge Xavier Rodriguez to sanction Ramey LLP, frequent plaintiff-side counsel in NPE patent cases, by holding the firm jointly and severally liable for any attorney fees awarded to Microsoft in a companion exceptional case motion. Microsoft seeks a shift of fees associated with preparing a second motion to dismiss in a case filed by CTD Networks LLC, arguing that Ramey LLP must also be held accountable to deter it “from repeatedly filing baseless, nuisance-value suits”, and that “the entities Mr. Ramey represents are effectively judgment-proof. In other words, any money they receive (for example, by way of settlements) is paid to third parties such as litigation funders and Ramey LLP, leaving nothing to satisfy any subsequent fee awards or sanctions awarded against such entities”. Microsoft points to a recent rocky history of Ramey LLP representations in support of its request.