FedCircuitBlog

Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. With respect to granted cases, there is no new activity to report since our last update. With respect to petitions, two new petitions were filed with the Court, one in a veterans case and one in a pro se case. Additionally a waiver of right to respond was filed in a pro se case and an amicus brief was filed in a patent case raising a question related to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. Finally, the Court denied petitions in a Tucker Act case and in a takings case. Here are the details.

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit. Highlights include a new petition in a patent case raising a question concerning prior art for purposes of design patent law and two denials of petitions in two other patent cases raising questions related to the law governing reissue proceedings and fee shifting, respectively. Here are the details.

This morning, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in a “rails-to-trials” takings case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims and a nonprecedential opinion in a trademark case appealed from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Late yesterday the Federal Circuit also dismissed an appeal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a link to the dismissal.

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

• an article discussing a recent Federal Circuit judicial council brief that “pushes back on Judge Newman’s arguments that her colleagues should have recused themselves from the investigation, that she should have been allowed on the council and that the council was acting beyond its judicial duties by acting as an administrative body”; and
• another article about a recent decision from the Patent and Trademark Office “that limits the effect of a 2015 Federal Circuit decision regarding the dates of earlier inventions cited in patent applications.”

This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion, one nonprecedential opinion, and one nonprecedential order. The precedential opinion addresses an appeal from a judgment of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board finding certain claims unpatentable either for lack of written description or anticipation. Notably, the court affirmed the Board’s judgment despite arguments that the Board issued the final written decision after the statutory deadline and thus lacked jurisdiction. The nonprecedential opinion addresses a pro se appeal from a decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Finally, the order grants a motion for voluntary dismissal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a link to the dismissal.

Earlier this month, the Federal Circuit heard oral argument in Boyer v. United States. In this case, the Federal Circuit is reviewing a decision by the Court of Federal Claims to grant the government’s motion for summary judgment of a pay discrimination claim under the Equal Pay Act. The appeal relates primarily to the plaintiff’s argument that the trial court incorrectly relied only on salary history to establish its affirmative defense. Judges Dyk, Chen, and Stoll heard the parties’ arguments. This is our argument recap. 

This morning, the Federal Circuit unveiled an announcement that was first given to attendees of the Federal Circuit Bar Association’s Annual Dinner and Reception on Friday. The Court announced plans for the creation of a 2,400 square-foot learning center in Washington, DC that will focus primarily on providing unique learning opportunities focused on the intersection of law and technology to students in the local community. The center is currently planned to open in September 2024. Here is the full text of the announcement.

Today, the Federal Circuit released one nonprecedential opinion and one nonprecedential order. The opinion addresses an appeal from two judgments of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board finding all challenged claims unpatentable as obvious. The order is a dismissal of an appeal. Here is the introduction to the opinion and a link to the dismissal.

Last week, the Federal Circuit issued its opinion in Solar Energy Industries Association v. United States, a trade case we have been following because it attracted an amicus brief. In this case, the Federal Circuit reviewed a determination by the Court of International Trade that “the statutory authority to ‘modify’ a safeguard is limited to trade-liberalizing changes” and that Proclamation 10101 exceeded the President’s authority. In an opinion authored by Judge Stark joined by Judges Lourie and Taranto, the Federal Circuit reversed the judgment, holding that the “the President’s view that a ‘modification’ may include a change in a trade-restricting direction, and is not limited to trade-liberalizing changes, is not unreasonable.” This is our opinion summary.

This morning, the Federal Circuit released one nonprecedential opinion and three nonprecedential orders. The opinion addresses an appeal in a patent case, disputing the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s claim construction and ultimate decision declaring certain claims unpatentable. The orders are dismissals. Here is the introduction to the opinion and links to the orders.