Maria Santos

Correspondent

Maria Santos

White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news

Business & Regulatory patent

Decisions covered by Maria Santos

1,025 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
Fed. Cir. 25-1991 Panel Decision

SecurityPoint Holdings, Inc. v. United States

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissed the appeal in this civil dispute between SecurityPoint Holdings and the United States. The dismissal was granted by mutual agreement of the parties under the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Civil Other Civil
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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 a district court ruling that unexercised, future rights under a floating easement for a natural gas pipeline are not fixed to a specific location under Indiana law. The court declined to certify the question to the Indiana Supreme Court, concluding that existing state law provides sufficient certainty on the issue.

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

Harris and Olds v. W6LS, Inc.

The Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court order denying a motion to compel arbitration in a high-interest loan dispute. The court held that the arbitration and delegation provisions lacked mutual assent because they directed arbitrators to apply tribal law that did not exist when the loans were issued.

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9th Cir. 3:19-cv-07901-TLT Unpublished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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