FedCircuitBlog

This morning, the Federal Circuit released a precedential en banc opinion in a veterans case. In the opinion, the court held “that the claim-filing effective-date provisions of [38 U.S.C.] § 5110 are unconstitutional” as applied to the appellant based on his “very rare set of circumstances.” Notably, Judge Dyk filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, and Judge Hughes filed an opinion dissenting in part and dissenting from the judgment. In addition, late yesterday and this morning the court also released two nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the dismissals.

Late yesterday and this morning, the Federal Circuit released two opinions, one precedential and one nonprecedential, both in patent cases and both addressing obviousness. Additionally, the court released five nonprecedential orders, one transferring a case to another court, one summarily affirming a judgment, one granting a motion to remand a case, and two dismissing appeals. Additionally, the court released four summary affirmances and an erratum. Here are the introductions to the opinions and orders and links to the dismissals, summary affirmances, and the erratum.

Late yesterday and this morning, the Federal Circuit released five nonprecedential orders, three transferring cases to other courts and two dismissing appeals. Here are the introductions to the transfers and one of the dismissals and a link to the other dismissals.

This morning, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in a patent case addressing obviousness. The court also released three nonprecedential opinions, one in a patent case and two in pro se veterans cases. Additionally, the court released a nonprecedential order dismissing an appeal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a link to the dismissal.

Last week, the Federal Circuit issued its opinion in City of Wilmington v. United States, a Clean Water Act case that attracted an amicus brief. In this case, the Federal Circuit reviewed a determination by the Court of Federal Claims that the City of Wilmington was not entitled to recover “the payment of reasonable service charges” assessed for “the control and abatement of water pollution” and interest pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1323. This is our opinion summary.

This morning, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in a patent case addressing co-inventorship. The court also released four nonprecedential opinions, one in a patent case and three in pro se cases. Additionally, the court released five nonprecedential orders granting summary affirmance and an erratum. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the judgment, summary affirmances, and the erratum.

Late yesterday and this morning, the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential opinions: one in a patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and one in a tax case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims. The Federal Circuit also released eight nonprecedential orders: one summarily affirming a dismissal for lack of jurisdiction by the Court of Federal Claims, two transferring cases to other circuit courts, one deactivating and dismissing appeals, and four dismissing appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and orders and links to the dismissals.

Last month, the Federal Circuit issued its opinion in Cooperman v. Social Security Administration, a pro se case we have been watching because it attracted an amicus brief. In this case, the Federal Circuit reviewed a judgment of the Merit Systems Protection Board that found “good cause to remove Mr. Cooperman from his position as an administrative law judge at the Social Security Administration.” In a per curiam opinion joined by Judges Lourie, Hughes, and Stark, the Federal Circuit affirmed the Board’s judgment “[b]ecause the Board’s decision is supported by substantial evidence and because the Board did not otherwise err in its analysis.” This is our opinion summary.

This morning, the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential opinion in a patent case concerning obviousness. The court also released eight nonprecedential orders, which included a grant of a petition for a writ of mandamus to order the Western District of Texas to transfer a patent case, a grant of a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, four summary affirmances, and two dismissals. Here are the introductions to the opinion and orders and links to the summary affirmances and dismissals.

This morning, the Federal Circuit released two precedential opinions, one nonprecedential opinion, and three nonprecedential orders. In the precedential opinions, the court respectively vacated and remanded a judgment in a government contract case and reversed and affirmed in part in a patent case. Notably, Judge Newman dissented in the government contract case. In the nonprecedential opinion, the court affirmed a judgment of the Court of Federal Claims in a pro se case. In the nonprecedential orders, the Federal Circuit dismissed appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and text from the orders.