Maria Santos

Correspondent

Maria Santos

White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news

Business & Regulatory patent

Decisions covered by Maria Santos

639 decisions
Mar 31 2026
Fed. Cir. 24-2015 Panel Decision

TESLA, INC v. CHARGE FUSION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC 2024-2015

The Federal Circuit reversed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's finding of non-obviousness for Claim 1 of an electric vehicle charging patent, ruling that the Board applied an improper claim construction. The court affirmed the Board's decision for Claims 8 and 14, which contain distinct statutory limitations requiring a specific determination of time based on battery charge.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Mar 31 2026
7th Cir. 24-1630 Panel Decision

CLOSE ARMSTRONG, LLC v. TRUNKLINE GAS COMPANY, LLC

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Trunkline Gas Company, holding that Indiana law allows unexercised rights under a floating easement to remain unfixed to a specific location. The court declined to certify the question to the Indiana Supreme Court, finding existing precedent clearly establishes that such rights do not require immediate fixation.

Bankruptcy Civil Summary Judgment
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Mar 31 2026
7th Cir. 24-2056 Panel Decision

JOSHUA HARRIS and DONITA OLDS v. W6LS, INC., doing business as WITHU and WITHU LOANS, and CALIBER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to compel arbitration because the loan contracts lacked mutual assent regarding the governing law. The court held that delegating arbitrability to an arbitrator bound by a non-existent tribal law rendered the agreement illusory.

Antitrust (Civil) Civil Consumer Protection
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Mar 31 2026
9th Cir. 3:19-cv-07901-TLT Unpublished

Salhotra v. Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.

The Ninth Circuit vacated a district court judgment on the pleadings and remanded with instructions to dismiss the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because the plaintiffs failed to establish Article III standing. The court affirmed a Rule 11 sanctions order against the appellants, finding the complaint legally and factually baseless.

Civil ERISA / Employee Benefits Standing
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Mar 31 2026
5th Cir. 25-20176 Panel Decision

In the Matter of South Coast Supply Company Debtor Briar Capital Working Fund Capital, L.L.C., as assignee of South Coast Supply Company v. Robert W. Remmert

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the jury's verdict for Robert Remmert because the appellant failed to file a post-verdict motion challenging the sufficiency of the evidence. Under Supreme Court precedent, appellate courts lack jurisdiction to review legal insufficiency claims absent a Rule 50(b) motion, regardless of the underlying bankruptcy dispute.

Bankruptcy Civil
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Mar 30 2026
6th Cir. 25-8010 Published

In re SHARENNE L. TUCKER Debtor. SHARENNE L. TUCKER

The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Sixth Circuit reversed a bankruptcy court order confirming a Chapter 13 plan that attempted to retain a secured creditor's lien until the completion of plan payments rather than until discharge. The court held that the Bankruptcy Code's plain language requires lien retention until the earlier of debt payment or discharge, leaving no room for judicial modification when a debtor is ineligible for discharge.

Bankruptcy Civil Labor
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