FedCircuitBlog

This morning the Federal Circuit released two precedential opinions, one in a copyright case and one in a trade case. The court also released three nonprecedential opinions, two in patent cases and one in a trade case. The court also released an erratum. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a link to the erratum.

This morning the Federal Circuit announced that it will be closed to the public today, January 7, due to inclement weather. It also announced that it will conduct one of two proceedings by remote videoconferencing only, while the other proceeding will occur in person. Here is the full text of today’s announcement.

Here is an update on activity in cases pending before panels of the Federal Circuit where the case involves at least one amicus brief. We keep track of these cases in the “Other Cases” section of our blog. Today with respect to these cases we highlight three new opinions, one in a case related to the rulemaking authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs, another in a takings case related to water rights, and another related to patents alleged to be improperly listed in the FDA’s Orange Book. We also highlight five new cases, two related to trade agreements, two related to takings claims, and one patent case. Finally, we note new briefing in a patent case we have been tracking. Here are the details.

In December the Federal Circuit issued its opinion in City of Fresno v. United States, a takings case that attracted two amicus briefs. In this case, the Federal Circuit reviewed a dismissal by the Court of Federal Claims and a grant of summary judgment in favor of the United States. Parties to the California Central Valley Project sued the United States claiming they were entitled to water the United States failed to distribute after a drought in 2014. In an opinion authored by Judge Stark and joined by Chief Judge Moore and Judge Clevenger, the Federal Circuit affirmed the lower court’s dismissal and grant of summary judgment. This is our opinion summary.

This morning the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in a case appealed from the Merit Systems Protection Board involving claims under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The court also released two nonprecedential opinions, one in a patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the other in a pro se case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims. Here are the introductions to the opinions.

This week (and next Monday) is Court Week at the Federal Circuit. The court originally scheduled 12 panels to hear 72 cases, with the plan to hear oral argument in 45 cases. Given the National Day of Mourning for President Carter, however, the court last week announced that it would not open on Thursday, canceling two panels. As always, the court provides access to live audio of its arguments via the Federal Circuit’s YouTube channel. This month, four cases scheduled for oral argument attracted amicus briefs. Here’s what you need to know about these four cases.

This evening the Federal Circuit announced that it will be closed tomorrow, January 6, due to inclement weather and that it will conduct tomorrow’s proceedings by remote videoconferencing. Here is the full text of today’s announcement.

This morning the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in a trademark case and seven nonprecedential orders. One of the orders remands a case, and the others are all dismissals. Here are the introductions to the opinion and remand order and links to the dismissals.

As we have been reporting, four cases scheduled for oral argument at the Federal Circuit this month attracted amicus briefs. One of these cases is Marmen Inc. v. United States. In this case, Marmen appeals a judgment of the Court of International Trade, which sustained a final antidumping duty determination that assigned a dumping margin on Marmen, a Canadian wind tower producer. This is our argument preview.

As we have been reporting, four cases scheduled to be argued in January at the Federal Circuit attracted amicus briefs. One of these cases is HMTX Industries LLC v. United States. In this case, HMTX challenges the Court of International Trade’s decision to uphold a proposed increase in tariffs on goods originating in China. This is our argument preview.