FedCircuitBlog

On December 9, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Feliciano v. Department of Transportation, a case originally decided by the Merit Systems Protection Board. The Supreme Court granted review to consider whether “a federal civilian employee called or ordered to active duty under a provision of law during a national emergency is entitled to differential pay even if the duty is not directly connected to the national emergency.” The Federal Circuit held that, “[b]ecause Mr. Feliciano’s service does not qualify as an active duty contingency operation, as required by 5 U.S.C. § 5538(a), the Board properly denied differential pay.” This is our argument preview.

As we reported earlier today, late Friday afternoon the Federal Circuit released a precedential order granting a petition for rehearing en banc in a government contract case. Today the Federal Circuit also released two nonprecedential orders, both of which were dismissals. Here is the introduction to the precedential order and links to the dismissals.

Late Friday the Federal Circuit granted a petition for en banc rehearing in Percipient.AI, Inc. v. United States, a government contract case originally decided by the Court of Federal Claims. The question presented relates to standing under 28 U.S.C. § 1491(b)(1). That statutory provision grants the Court of Federal Claims “jurisdiction to render judgment on an action by an interested party objecting . . . to a proposed award or the award of a contract or any alleged violation of statute or regulation in connection with a procurement or a proposed procurement.” The question presented is: “Who can be an interested party objecting to any alleged violation of statute or regulation in connection with a procurement or a proposed procurement under 28 U.S.C. § 1491(b)(1)?” Here is the full text of Friday’s order granting en banc rehearing. We will report more on this case later this week.

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 two new opinions. One comes in a government contract case raising questions related to breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and recovery of certain termination-for-convenience damages. The other comes in a patent case raising questions related the propriety of an antisuit injunction. The other update is new briefing in another patent case raising questions related to whether the district court erred in granting summary judgment of patent eligibility, noninfringement, and denial of damages. Here are the details.

Today the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential opinions in cases appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board. The court also released three nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the dismissals.

Here is a report on recent news and commentary related to the Federal Circuit and its cases. Today’s report highlights:

• a press release noting that the “Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership (PREVAIL) Act (S. 2220) by a roll call vote of 11-10″;
• an article considering “what the IP community can expect from a second Trump presidency”; and
• an article discussing a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office internal memo that “banned the use of generative artificial intelligence for any purpose last year.”

Today the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential opinion in a patent case affirming a grant of summary judgment of noninfringement, two nonprecedential orders transferring appeals, and two nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinion and transfers, along with links to the dismissals.

Yesterday the Federal Circuit released an announcement advising the public regarding fake notices of electronic filing and docket activity being sent to attorneys and law firms. Here is the full text of the announcement.

Here is an update on activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. With respect to granted cases, there is no new activity to report. With respect to petitions, two new petitions were filed. One comes in a patent case raising a question under the Administrative Procedure Act relating to inter partes review by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The other petition comes in a pro se case. The Court also received a new brief in opposition in a case concerning appellate procedure, an amicus brief in a patent case, and waivers of the right to respond in two other patent cases. In addition, the Court denied the petitions in three patent cases and one pro se case. Here are the details.

Late yesterday and today the Federal Circuit released four nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals. Here are links to them.