Correspondent
White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the convictions of five pharmacists for a healthcare fraud scheme involving billing for prescriptions never dispensed. The court rejected challenges regarding expert testimony, evidence exclusion, and sentencing, finding no reversible error.
The Eleventh Circuit dismissed an appeal by an insurance company seeking to intervene in a civil trafficking lawsuit. The court held that the insurer waited too long to file its motion, rendering the request untimely under federal rules.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted a motion to voluntarily dismiss an appeal filed by a claimant against the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The court lifted any existing stay and ordered each side to bear its own costs.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court dismissal of an antitrust lawsuit challenging a merger between Albertsons and Kroger. The court held that the case was moot after the companies abandoned the merger and that the plaintiffs were not entitled to attorney's fees.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court dismissal of a patent infringement claim. The court held that the patent claims required receiving a combined password, not separate passcode and token components.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied a petition for a writ of mandamus seeking to stop an International Trade Commission investigation into flavored vape products. The court held that the petitioners failed to demonstrate a clear right to relief or the absence of adequate alternative remedies.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court order denying motions to seal a complaint and to reconsider that denial. The appellate court found no reversible error in the lower court's handling of the case after the parties settled and dismissed the action with prejudice.
The Fourth Circuit denied a motion for a stay pending review of a Virginia water quality certification for the Southgate Project. The court found that petitioners failed to make a strong showing that they are likely to succeed on the merits of their administrative law challenges.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a Tax Court decision upholding a frivolous-filing penalty and a twenty-five thousand dollar sanction against a pro se taxpayer. The court rejected the petitioner's repeated arguments that his salary is not taxable income, citing his extensive history of advancing groundless positions.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of an attorney's motion to reallocate settlement fees. The court held that the appellant's failure to object to the fee allocation procedures and deadlines within the required timeframe barred her claim.
