Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 31, 2025

This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion, one nonprecedential opinion, and one nonprecedential order. The precedential opinion comes in a veterans case on appeal from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the nonprecedential opinion comes in a patent case on appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and the nonprecedential order dismisses an appeal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a link to the order.  

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 28, 2025

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential orders, each dismissing an appeal. This morning, the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential opinions. One comes in a veterans case, and the other comes in a patent case. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the orders.  

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 24, 2025

This morning, the Federal Circuit released three precedential opinions, four nonprecedential opinions, and a nonprecedential order. Of the precedential opinions, two come in patent cases on appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the other comes in a takings case on appeal from the Court of Federal Claims. Of the nonprecedential opinions, two come in pro se appeals, one comes in a veterans case, and the other comes in a patent case on appeal from the Court of Federal Claims. The lone nonprecedential order dismisses an appeal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a link to the dismissal.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 20, 2025

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential orders, each dismissing an appeal. This morning, the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential orders, each granting a motion to withdraw an appeal. Here is the introduction to the substantive nonprecedential order dismissing an appeal and a link to the other nonprecedential orders.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 19, 2025

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released a precedential order sua sponte granting en banc review of an appeal from the Court of Federal Claims. In the order, the Federal Circuit requests new briefing related to the effect of the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. This morning, the Federal Circuit released four precedential opinions, one nonprecedential opinion, three nonprecedential orders, and an errata. Of the precedential opinions, one comes in a patent case, one comes in a trademark case, one comes in a government contract case, and the other comes in a veterans case. The lone nonprecedential opinion comes in a pro se appeal. Of the nonprecedential orders, one grants a motion to summarily affirm and the other two dismiss appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and orders as well as links to the errata and dismissals.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 14, 2025

This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion and four nonprecedential opinions. The lone precedential opinion comes in a patent case on appeal from the Northern District of West Virginia. Of the nonprecedential opinions, two come in patent cases on appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, one comes in a case on appeal from the Merit Systems Protection Board, and the other comes in a veterans case. Here are the introductions to the opinions.

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Featured / Opinions / Supreme Court Activity

Opinion Summary – Bufkin v. Collins

Last week the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Bufkin v. Collins, a veterans case. In this case, the Supreme Court reviewed the Federal Circuit’s conclusion that the Veterans Court did not err by “tak[ing] due account” of the Department of Veterans Affair’s application of the benefit-of-the-doubt rule and applying a clear error standard of review for factual issues. In a decision authored by Justice Thomas, the Supreme Court affirmed the Federal Circuit’s ruling. The Court held that the Veterans Court reviews the VA’s application of the benefit-of-the-doubt rule by reviewing legal issues de novo and factual issues for clear error, and that the VA’s determination that the evidence is in approximate balance is a predominantly factual determination reviewed only for clear error. Notably, Justice Jackson dissented, joined by Justice Gorsuch. This is our opinion summary.

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Featured / Petitions / Supreme Court Activity

Recent Supreme Court Activity

Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. With respect to granted cases, the Supreme Court issued an opinion in Bufkin v. Collins, a veterans case. Additionally, an opening merits brief and three amicus briefs in support of the petitioner were submitted in Soto v. United States, another veterans case. With respect to petitions, one new petition was filed in a patent case, and two new petitions were filed in pro se cases; a brief in opposition was filed in a patent case; two replies in support of petitions were filed in a patent case and a case related to Federal Circuit Rule 36; and two amicus briefs were filed in a patent case. In addition, the Court denied petitions in a patent case, a trade case, and a pro se case. Here are the details.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 10, 2025

This morning, the Federal Circuit released three precedential opinions, seven nonprecedential opinions, one nonprecedential order, and one summary affirmance under Rule 36. Of the precedential opinions, two come in patent cases on appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, while the third comes in a veterans case on appeal from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Of the nonprecedential opinions, three come in appeals from the Merit Systems Protection Board, two come in appeals from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and two come in appeals from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The lone nonprecedential order dismisses an appeal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and order and a link to the summary affirmance.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 7, 2025

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in a trade case. Notably, Judge Dyk dissented from the majority’s holding affirming the Court of International Trade. This morning, the Federal Circuit released two precedential opinions, two nonprecedential opinions, and three nonprecedential orders. Both precedential opinions come in patent cases. Of the nonprecedential opinions, one comes in a patent case, while the other comes in a veterans case. All three nonprecedential orders dismiss appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the dismissals.

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