This morning, the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion affirming the dismissal of a government contracts case as time-barred. The Federal Circuit also issued a nonprecedential order late yesterday denying a petition for a writ of mandamus directing the Western District of Texas to transfer a patent case. Here are the introductions to the opinion and order.
Argument Preview – Rolfingsmeyer v. Office of Personnel Management
One of the three cases being argued next week at the Federal Circuit that attracted amicus briefs is a death benefit case entitled Rolfingsmeyer v. Office of Personnel Management. In this case, the Federal Circuit will review the Merit Systems Protection Board’s decision denying Patricia Rolfingsmeyer a survivor annuity and a basic employee death benefit based on the death of Tina Sammons, her alleged common law spouse. This is our argument preview.
Federal Circuit Announces Expanded Availability of Oral Argument Live Audio Streaming
Today, the Federal Circuit announced that, starting with next month’s court session, it will begin offering a new live audio streaming program on the Federal Circuit’s new YouTube channel. Next month one oral argument will be streamed each day, but in April the court plans to live stream every oral argument using YouTube. Here is the text of today’s announcement.
Opinions & Orders – February 25, 2021
This morning, the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion in a copyright case, vacating a decision by the Court of Federal Claims, which had absolved the U.S. Navy of copyright infringement. Here is the introduction to the opinion.
Recent Supreme Court Activity
Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit.
- The Court received new reply briefs in two cases that have been granted certiorari: (1) Minerva Surgical, Inc. v. Hologic, Inc. and (2) United States v. Arthrex, Inc.
- The Court received five new petitions for writ of certiorari.
- One new response brief was filed with the Court in Argentum Pharmaceuticals LLC v. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
- One new amicus brief was filed by a non-profit advocacy organization, US Inventor, Inc., in the new case Amarin Pharma, Inc. v. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.
- Hikma filed a waiver of its right to respond to the petition in Amarin Pharma, Inc. v. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.
- Lastly, the Court denied the petitions for writ of certiorari in six cases.
Here are the details.
Recent Scholarship Related to the Federal Circuit
This month we highlight two scholarly articles related to the Federal Circuit.
Opinions & Orders – February 24, 2021
This morning, the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential opinion in a patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, a nonprecedential errata, and a Rule 36 judgment. Here is the introduction to the opinion, the text of the errata, and a link to the Rule 36 judgment.
Argument Preview – Omni Medsci, Inc. v. Apple Inc.
Another case being argued next week at the Federal Circuit that attracted amicus briefs is Omni Medsci, Inc. v. Apple Inc. In this patent case, the Federal Circuit granted Apple’s motion for an interlocutory appeal to review two different district courts’ holdings with respect to an alleged standing problem. This is our argument preview.
Recent En Banc Activity
Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. The court denied two petitions raising questions related to inter partes review. That’s it! Here is a summary with links to the relevant case pages for more information.
Case Update – GlaxoSmithKline LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
Recently, a panel of the Federal Circuit granted panel rehearing in GlaxoSmithKline LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. In this case, Teva petitioned the en banc court to reconsider the panel’s decision that Teva induced infringement through use of a skinny label on its generic version of GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) drug Coreg. The panel treated the petition as requesting panel rehearing, granted the petition, and ordered a second oral argument in the case, which was held this morning. Here are the details of the case.