Maria Santos

Correspondent

Maria Santos

White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news

Business & Regulatory patent

Decisions covered by Maria Santos

639 decisions
Apr 22 2026
Fed. Cir. 25-1351 Panel Decision

Collins v. Small Business Administration

The Federal Circuit determined it lacked subject matter jurisdiction over an appeal concerning the Restaurant Revitalization Fund because the dispute did not involve patent laws or small claims against the United States. Instead of dismissing the case, the court transferred the appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit under 28 U.S.C. § 1631.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Apr 22 2026
9th Cir. 2:21-cv-04154-SSS-KS Unpublished

Harvest Aid, LLC v. Paul, et al.

The Ninth Circuit vacated a district court order that denied a motion for a new trial solely because the defendants failed to complete a local rule pre-filing conference. The appellate court held that the district court abused its discretion by ignoring the defendants' good-faith efforts to meet and confer and the plaintiff's refusal to cooperate.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Apr 22 2026
9th Cir. 2:25-cv-10999- Published

USA V. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit granted the United States' motion for an injunction pending appeal, temporarily barring California from enforcing its identification requirement for federal law enforcement officers. The court held that the state statute likely violates the Supremacy Clause because it directly regulates the federal government in the performance of its governmental functions.

Civil Securities
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Apr 22 2026
7th Cir. 24-3239 Panel Decision

HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION & SUBSIDIARIES v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE

The Seventh Circuit vacated and remanded the Tax Court's decision because the lower court failed to apply the claim of right doctrine when determining if loyalty fund payments constituted taxable income. The appellate court clarified that the claim of right doctrine is an independent basis for excluding income, broader than the trust fund doctrine previously applied.

Civil Tax (Civil)
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Apr 22 2026
9th Cir. 2:21-cv-04154-SSS-KS Unpublished

Harvest Aid, LLC v. Paul, et al.

The Ninth Circuit vacated a district court order that denied defendants' motions for a new trial solely because they failed to comply with local pre-filing conference rules. The appellate court held that strict enforcement of procedural requirements without equitable consideration deprived the defendants of a merits-based trial when they had made good-faith efforts to cooperate.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Apr 22 2026
11th Cir. 1:23-cv-24257-BB Published

Byron Chemaly v. Eddie Lampert

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's order compelling arbitration for a seaman's maintenance and cure claims but reversed the order compelling arbitration for his Jones Act negligence claim against non-signatory defendants. The court held that while the employment agreement's arbitration clause was valid, the plaintiff's allegations did not demonstrate the interdependent and concerted misconduct required to bind non-signatories to the Jones Act claim.

Civil Securities
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Apr 22 2026
6th Cir. 25-1802 Published

Ross v. Robinson, Hoover & Fudge, PLLC

The Sixth Circuit reversed a district court's dismissal of a debt collector's personal jurisdiction, holding that garnishing wages earned in Michigan constitutes purposeful direction of activities toward the state. The court found that the debt collector intentionally targeted a Michigan resident's earnings, satisfying due process requirements under the Calder effects test.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Apr 22 2026
Fed. Cir. 25-1350 Panel Decision

COLLINS v. SHUTTERED VENUES OPERATIONS GRANT

The Federal Circuit determined it lacked jurisdiction over an appeal concerning a Small Business Administration grant dispute because the claim did not involve patent laws or specific tort damages. Consequently, the court transferred the case to the Third Circuit, which holds proper subject matter jurisdiction over this civil action.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Apr 21 2026
11th Cir. 2:22-cv-14353-DMM Per Curiam

KEITH PEARCE v. STATE FARM FLORIDA INSURANCE COMPANY STATE FARM FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY STATE FARM GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY, et al

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of breach of contract and unjust enrichment claims against State Farm entities that were not the actual contracting parties. However, the court vacated the dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because the district court failed to analyze whether diversity existed after removing non-diverse defendants.

Civil Contract Insurance Intellectual Property
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Apr 21 2026
Fed. Cir. 26-1346 Panel Decision

Oyer v. Merit Systems Protection Board

The Federal Circuit dismissed an appeal because the Merit Systems Protection Board's order was not a final decision under the governing statute. The court held that a stay of proceedings pending resolution of related issues does not end litigation on the merits.

Civil Securities
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