Argument Preview / Panel Activity

Argument Preview – Textron Aviation Defense LLC v. United States

Four cases being argued in April at the Federal Circuit attracted amicus briefs. One of these cases is Textron Aviation Defense LLC v. United States. In it, the Federal Circuit will review a judgment by the Court of Federal Claims, which granted the government’s motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, or in the alternative for summary judgment, in a government contract case. This is our argument preview.

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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 argument this week in a case originating at the Merit Systems Protection Board, Harrow v. Department of Defense. With respect to petitions, one new petition was filed in a design patent case, a brief in opposition was filed in a veterans case, and the Court denied a petition in a pro se case. Here are the details.

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Argument Recap

Argument Recap – Ireland v. United States

Earlier this month, the Federal Circuit heard oral argument in Ireland v. United States, a case that attracted an amicus brief. In this case, the Federal Circuit is reviewing a decision by the Western District of Texas to grant a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim in an unemployment benefits case under the Little Tucker Act. Judges Lourie, Linn, and Stoll heard the argument. This is our argument recap.

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En Banc Activity

Recent En Banc Activity

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit. Highlights include new petition for rehearing in two patent cases. One petition raise questions concerning government licenses to patents, while the other petition raises questions related to indefiniteness and claim construction. Here are the details.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 26, 2024

This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion and two nonprecedential orders. The opinion addresses a dispute over the application of the Equal Pay Act and an employer’s reliance on prior compensation to justify gender pay discrepancy. The orders are dismissals. Here is the introduction to the opinion and links to the dismissals.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 25, 2024

This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion, one nonprecedential opinion, and four nonprecedential orders. The precedential opinion concerns a “seven-day trip of two transcatheter heart valve systems in and out of San Francisco”—and whether this act of “importation” was exempt from patent infringement under the safe harbor provision of 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(1). Judge Lourie dissented from the majority’s interpretation of the relevant statutory language and precedent to exempt infringement in this situation. The nonprecedential opinion addresses an appeal from a decision of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims affirming the denial of fees. The orders are dismissals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the orders.  

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 21, 2024

This morning, the Federal Circuit released four nonprecedential opinions and two nonprecedential orders. One of the opinions addresses an appeal from a judgment of the Court of Federal Claims. Another one of the opinions addresses an appeal from a summary judgment holding asserted patent claims ineligible for patenting. The remaining two opinions address appeals from judgments of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board finding certain claims unpatentable. The orders are both dismissals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the orders.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 14, 2024

This morning, the Federal Circuit released one nonprecedential opinion and two dismissals. The nonprecedential opinion addresses an appeal from two decisions of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Here is the introduction to the opinion and links to the orders.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 12, 2024

This morning, the Federal Circuit released three nonprecedential opinions and two nonprecedential orders. All three of the opinions address pro se appeals—two opinions dismiss for lack of jurisdiction and one affirms a final order of the Merit Systems Protection Board. The orders are dismissals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the orders.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – March 8, 2024

 This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion, one nonprecedential opinion, two dismissals, and one Rule 36 summary affirmance. The precedential opinion comes in a pro se appeal from a judgment of the Court of Federal Claims, and the nonprecedential opinion comes in an appeal from a judgment of the Court of Appeals of Veterans Claims. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the dismissals and summary affirmance.

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