Opinions

Opinions & Orders – February 6, 2025

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential orders, each dismissing an appeal. This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion, three nonprecedential opinions, two nonprecedential orders, and a Rule 36 summary affirmance. The lone precedential opinion comes in a patent case on appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, the nonprecedential opinions all come in cases on appeal from the Merit Systems Protection Board, and both of the nonprecedential orders dismiss appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the summary affirmance and dismissals.

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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. Notably, on Friday the Supreme Court granted certiorari in a veterans case. In addition, one new petition was filed in a patent case presenting questions related to motions under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 60, the judicial exceptions to patent eligibility, and the application of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 in patent cases; the court received waivers of the right to respond to petitions in one patent case and two pro se cases; an amicus brief was filed in a case presenting a question related to the use of Federal Circuit Rule 36 in appeals from decisions of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board; and the Court denied a petition in a patent case. Here are the details.

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Featured / Supreme Court Activity

Breaking News – Supreme Court Grants Certiorari in Veterans Case to Consider How to Determine Limitations Periods on Claims

On Friday, the Supreme Court granted the petition for a writ of certiorari presented in Soto v. United States, a veterans case. The Supreme Court indicated it will consider the following question: “Given the Federal Circuit’s holding that a claim for compensation under 10 U.S.C. § 1413a is a claim ‘involving . . . retired pay’ under 31 U.S.C. § 3702(a)(l)(A), does 10 U.S.C. § 1413a provide a settlement mechanism that displaces the default procedures and limitations set forth in the Barring Act?” What follows the break is the relevant background and question presented by Soto’s counsel.

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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, earlier this month the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Feliciano v. Department of Transportation, and we have since posted our argument recap. With respect to petitions, two new petitions were filed in a patent case and a pro se case; waivers of the right to respond were filed in two patent cases, a case addressing Rule 36, and two pro se cases; briefs in opposition were filed in two patent cases; replies in support of petitions were filed in a patent case, a case addressing Rule 36, a veterans case, and a case addressing procedure; and six amicus briefs were filed in a case addressing Rule 36. In addition, the Court denied the petition in the case addressing procedure. Here are the details.

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Petitions / Supreme Court Activity

Recent Supreme Court Activity

Here is an update on activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. With respect to granted cases, oral argument in Feliciano v. Department of Transportation will take place on December 9. Since our last update, a waiver of the right to respond was filed in a pro se case, two new briefs in opposition were filed in a patent case and a veterans case, and seven amicus briefs were filed in two patent cases and a veterans case. In addition, the Court denied the petition in a patent case raising questions related to Judge Newman’s removal from hearing appeals, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(d), and eligibility. Here are the details.

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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 heard oral arguments last week in Bufkin v. McDonough. With respect to petitions, three new petitions were filed in two patent cases and a veterans case, two new briefs in opposition were filed in patent cases, and one new amicus brief was filed in a veterans case. In addition, the Court denied the petitions in a patent case and a pro se case. Here are the details.

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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 petitioners’ reply brief was filed in Bufkin v. McDonough, a veterans case concerning the benefit-of-the-doubt rule. With respect to petitions, two new petitions were filed in a patent case and a veterans case, and new waivers of the right to respond were filed in the same patent case and in a pro se case. Here are the details.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – February 14, 2024

This morning, the Federal Circuit release two nonprecedential opinions. One opinion addresses a pro se appeal from a decision of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The other opinion, which includes a concurrence-in-part and dissent-in-part from Judge Schall, addresses an appeal from a district court’s final judgment of invalidity with respect to the definiteness of certain patent claims. Here are the introductions to the opinions.  

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – February 12, 2024

This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion, one nonprecedential opinion, one nonprecedential order, and two Rule 36 summary affirmances. The precedential opinion, which drew a dissent from Judge Reyna, addresses the application of the Barring Act to the settlement of Combat-Related Special Compensation claims. The nonprecedential opinion addresses a pro se appeal from a district court judgment in a patent case. The nonprecedential order dismisses an appeal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the dismissal and summary affirmances.

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