Topic
Every decision we've filed under Intellectual Property.
The Federal Circuit dismissed an appeal as moot because the parties' settlement agreement functioned as a side bet rather than a genuine dispute. The court found that a potential $100 license fee reduction was insufficient to establish the Article III case or controversy required for judicial review.
The Federal Circuit denied a petition for a writ of mandamus seeking to overturn a district court order disqualifying patent counsel. The appellate court upheld the disqualification, finding that a third-party payment arrangement created an impermissible conflict of interest that materially limited the lawyers' independent judgment.
The Ninth Circuit denied petitions for panel and en banc rehearing, upholding the district court's summary judgment that the Bureau of Land Management lacked authority to conduct a land exchange involving Fort Hall Reservation lands. The court held that a specific 1900 statute governing these ceded lands prohibits disposal via the Federal Land Policy and Management Act because the earlier law's plain text bars such transfers.
The Ninth Circuit denied petitions for panel and en banc rehearing, leaving in place a ruling that the Bureau of Land Management lacked authority to conduct a land exchange involving Fort Hall Reservation ceded lands. The court held that a specific 1900 Act provision restricting disposal of these lands to certain enumerated laws supersedes the general disposal authorization found in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissed one appeal in a patent dispute between Cozy, Inc. and Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc. The dismissal followed a joint stipulation by the parties to voluntarily withdraw the appeal filed by King and Spalding, LLP and its clients.
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.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a Bankruptcy Appellate Panel ruling that creditors violated the bankruptcy discharge injunction by misapplying Chapter 13 plan payments. The court further held that emotional distress damages remain a potential remedy for such violations under traditional civil contempt principles.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissed an appeal in a patent dispute after the parties reached a settlement. The court granted the appellee's motion to dismiss and awarded costs to the appellee.
The Eleventh Circuit reversed a district court dismissal, holding that Florida courts may exercise personal jurisdiction over a Mexican heiress and her corporation for sending cease-and-desist letters into the state. The court found that the letters were sent in the individual capacity of the defendant and that the intentional torts satisfied due process requirements.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed a summary judgment ruling in favor of The Nature Conservancy. The court held that a property owner failed to prove the elements of promissory estoppel based on alleged oral statements made during a lunch meeting.