Apple AirPods Surgery, Juror’s Internet Sleuthing Scuttled Trial

An Apple Inc. AirPods patent-infringement case, deemed a mistrial soon after a California jury began deliberating, was caused by one juror’s internet research and another’s surgery on a pair of earbuds to demonstrate the obviousness of a disputed invention, court filings show.

Wireless devicemaker Pinn Inc. alleges that Apple’s second-generation AirPods, and its AirPods Pro, infringe two patents related to wireless earbuds and their charging case. Judge David O. Carter declared the mistrial Aug. 10 in the US District Court for the Central District of California.

The Santa Ana jury, in a note to the judge sent at 1:04 p.m. …