This morning the Federal Circuit issued one nonprecedential opinion in a patent case. Here is the introduction to the opinion.
Sauder Manufacturing Co. v. J Squared, Inc. (Nonprecedential)
This appeal arises from a dispute following the settlement of a patent infringement action brought by Sauder Manufacturing Company against J Squared, Inc., doing business as University Loft Company (hereinafter, “ULC”). Sauder filed a petition alleging that ULC had failed to comply with the terms of the parties’ settlement agreement and accompanying permanent injunction. The district court ultimately rejected all of the claims in Sauder’s petition, declining to grant any relief to Sauder. Pursuant to terms of the settlement agreement, ULC moved to recover the attorney fees and costs it incurred in the post-settlement dispute, but the district court denied that relief too.
Sauder appeals the district court’s order determining that ULC complied with the terms of the settlement agreement and permanent injunction. Because we discern no reversible error in the district court’s determinations regarding ULC’s compliance, we affirm the district court’s order on that ground. ULC cross-appeals the district court’s order denying an award of attorney fees and costs. Because we conclude that ULC is the prevailing party in this action, we reverse the district court’s prevailing party determination and remand for a determination of the amount of attorney fees and costs to be awarded to ULC under the terms of the settlement agreement.