This morning the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential opinion in a pro se case appealed from the Merit Systems Protection Board. The court also released two nonprecedential orders, one summarily affirming a judgment of the Court of Federal Claims and another denying a petition for a writ of mandamus. Additionally, the Federal Circuit released four summary affirmances. Here is the introduction to the opinion, text from the orders, and links to the summary affirmances.
Opinions & Orders – July 12, 2023
This morning, the Federal Circuit released two opinions: a precedential opinion in a patent case addressing the patentability of reissue claims and a nonprecedential opinion addressing the Court of Federal Claims’ subject matter jurisdiction. The court also released two summary affirmances. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the summary affirmances.
Opinions & Orders – July 10, 2023
This morning, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in a patent case. In it, the court vacated and remanded a Patent Trial and Appeal Board judgment that challenged claims were not unpatentable for obviousness. The court also released three nonprecedential orders, two dismissing appeals for untimeliness and one dismissing an appeal for failure to prosecute. Here is the introduction to the opinion, text from the dismissals for untimeliness, and a link to the dismissal for failure to prosecute.
Recent Supreme Court Activity
Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. The Court granted the petition for certiorari in Rudisill v. McDonough, a veterans case raising a question related to GI Bill educational assistance. With respect to petitions, two new petitions were filed, one in a patent and one in a pro se case; a brief in opposition was filed in a patent case concerning inter partes review estoppel; and the Court denied petitions in two patent cases and five pro se cases. Here are the details.
Opinions & Orders – June 28, 2023
This morning, the Federal Circuit released three opinions, one precedential opinion in a takings case and two nonprecedential opinions in patent cases addressing, respectively, claim construction and non-obviousness. Late yesterday and this morning, the court also released four nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals, one for lack of jurisdiction. Here are the introductions to the opinions and the dismissal for lack of jurisdiction and links to the other dismissals.
Opinion Summary – Ideker Farms, Inc. v. United States
Earlier this month, the Federal Circuit issued its opinion in Ideker Farms, Inc. v. United States, a takings case we have been following because it attracted an amicus brief. In this case, the Federal Circuit reviewed a conclusion of the Court of Federal Claims that the government’s action was the cause-in-fact of flooding damage and that, as a result, a taking-by-flooding occurred. In an opinon authored by Chief Judge Moore and joined by Judges Prost and Taranto, the Federal Circuit affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded the case. This is our opinion summary.
Recent News on the Federal Circuit
Here is a report on recent news and commentary related to the Federal Circuit and its cases. Today’s report highlights:
- an article and a blog post providing information on the recently released letter and order regarding the ongoing investigation into Judge Newman’s fitness to serve as a judge; and
- a blog post discussing whether obviousness is a question of law or fact.
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, there is no new activity to report since our last update. While no new petitions were filed with the Court, an amicus brief in support of a petition was filed in an employment case, and the Court denied certiorari in a veterans case and a patent case. Here are the details.
Update on Important Panel Activity
Here is this month’s update on activity in cases pending before panels of the Federal Circuit where the cases involve 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 patent cases; opinions in a Clean Water Act case and a pro se case; a summary affirmance in a patent case; and oral arguments in a pro se case, a trade case, and two related patent cases. Here are the details.
Opinions & Orders – June 16, 2023
This morning, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in a takings case that attracted an amicus brief. In the opinion, the court held in part that “the trial court properly applied the stabilization doctrine to this case and did not clearly err” in determining the timing of when the taking accrued. The court, however, vacated the trial court’s denial of crop damages and its finding that the government did not causally contribute to certain flooding and remanded the case. In addition, this morning the court also released an erratum. Here is the introduction to the opinion and a link to the erratum.