December 15, 2022
Volume XII, Number 349
December 15, 2022
– Applying Collateral Estoppel in IPRs by: Alexandra Cavazos, PhD
– Appellate Court Addresses How Much Information Employee Must Submit…by: Tasos C.Paindiris and David Mohl
– Improving Liquidity Through Real Estate Sale and Leaseback…by: Simone Wijngaard and Alexander van Hövell
– The Ultimate Lawyer Time Off Checklist by: Kamron Sanders
– PTO Announces Cancer Moonshot Expedited Examination Pilot Program by: Bernard P.Codd
– Do Law Firms Use HubSpot? by: CRM News and Updates, Lawmatics
– Litigation Minute: Year in Review—Trending Topics Across the 2022…by: Lindsay Sampson Bishop and Jacquelyn S.Celender
– The State of ESG Reporting in Australia by: Clive Cachia and Adam Levine
– Supreme Court to Hear Case on Whether Lawsuits are Stayed During…
by: Ron Chapman, Jr.
and Zachary V.Zagger
December 14, 2022
– Certain Green Cards Getting 24-Month Extensions as USCIS Deals With…
by: Michael H.Neifach
– Ankura CTIX FLASH Update – December 13, 2022 by: Ankura Cyber Threat Investigations and Expert Services
– Australia: Climate and Sustainability-Related Financial Disclosure…by: Jim Bulling
– Ankura CTIX FLASH Update – December 9, 2022 by: Ankura Cyber Threat Investigations and Expert Services
– New Washington State Guidance A Reminder That More State Pay…by: Aaron Vance
– Washington Supreme Court Affirms Ecology’s Authority to Bypass…by: Erika H.
Spanton and Allyn L.Stern
– NLRB Unleashes New Damages Against Labor Law Violators by: Mark J.Neuberger
– Illinois Appellate Court Weighs in on Biometric Data Policies by: David M.Poell and Kari M.Rollins
– FTC Issues Green Guides Questionnaire by: Phyllis H.Marcus
– Traveling for the Holidays: Planning for Successful International…
by: Ann H.Lee and Michael J.Bonsignore
– NYC Council Considering Proposal To Significantly Limit At-Will…
by: Evandro C Gigante and Joseph C O’Keefe
– Webinar Recording: Navigating Today’s Privacy Compliance…by: Cynthia J.Larose
– Pennsylvania Takes Emergency Action to Regulate Conventional Oil…by: David J.
Raphael and Brianna K.Edwards
– A Look At The Upcoming European Unitary Patent And Unified Patent…by: Angela B.Freeman, M.S.
and Rory P.Pheiffer
– Massachusetts Unveils New Workplace Poster, Notifications for…by: Rachel Reingold Mandel and Ashley Prickett Cuttino
– US Executive Branch Update – December 14, 2022 by: Stacy A.Swanson
– Michigan Court of Appeals Hears Argument on the Adopt and Amend…
by: Luis E.Avila and Maureen Rouse-Ayoub
– California Wage and Hour Issues for Employers to Watch in 2023: Is My…by: Karen E.Wentzel and Michael W.Kelly
– AML Bill Key to Busting Russian Oligarchs by: Stephen M.Kohn and Grace Schepis
– SEC and CFTC Whistleblower Programs Reveal Continued Success…
by: Jason Zuckerman and Matthew Stock
– Prices Keep Rising: Labor Board Significantly Expands Remedies…by: David J.Pryzbylski and Aaron Vance
– More on Understanding the Medicare Overpayment Appeals Process by: Kendall R.Walker and Courtney G.Tito
– New York State Provides Protection for Use of Leaves of Absence by: Jonathan A.Wexler
– US Executive Branch Update – December 13, 2022 by: Stacy A.Swanson
– Looking Ahead to 2023: Pay Transparency Developments by: Allan S Bloom and Evandro C Gigante
– What Does 2023 Hold for California COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick…
by: Benjamin A.Tulis
– AND ANOTHER ONE! TCPA CLASS DISCOVERY LIMITED: Third Party Subpoena…by: Jenniffer Cabrera
– Reminder: New Tax Forms for Retirement Plan Payment Withholding…by: Jeffrey M.Holdvogt and Diane M.Morgenthaler
– Ninth Circuit Answers Lingering Question on Scope of ‘Autodialer…by: Joseph C.
Wylie II and Nicole C.Mueller
– Speak Out Act Takes Effect, Enhanced Data Privacy Obligations for…by: George Carroll Whipple, III
– Preparing for New SBA Certification Requirements for Veteran-Owned…by: Erin L.
Toomey and Frank S.Murray
– California Starts Mandating Employee Bereavement Leave in 2023 by: Paul R.Lynd
– HHS Bulletin: Covered Entities’ Disclosure of PHI Collected via…by: Ryan P.Blaney and Danielle L.Brooks
– When 2 Minus 1 Still Equals 2: Combining Lots in a Planned Community by: Dana M.
Lingenfelser and Kristin D.Mitcham
– GREAT LEGAL WORK: TCPA Defendant Wins a HUGE Certification Victory…by: Eric J.Troutman
– 401(k) Compliance Check #12: Don’t Borrow Trouble – Correcting…
by: Belinda S.Morgan
– FDA Published Food Safety Culture Literature Review by: Food and Drug Law at Keller and Heckman
– Does a business have to provide a privacy notice directly to a…
by: David A.Zetoony
– New Privacy Enforcement Act Commences in Australia by: Cameron Abbott and Rob Pulham
– NYC Delays Enforcement of Automated Employment Decision Tools Law to…by: Lindsay Colvin Stone
– U.S.Department of State to Update Design on Nonimmigrant and…by: Ashley K.Kerr
– Cannon Fire: Newly-Famous Judge Stays All Discovery in TCPA Class…by: Eric J.Troutman
– EPA Announces Proposed RFS for 2023-2025, Will Hold Public Hearing in…
by: Lynn L.Bergeson and Carla N.Hutton
– Why Do Law Firms Need CRM? by: CRM News and Updates, Lawmatics
– This California Rule by: Keith Paul Bishop
– Unintended Consequences: Legal Compliance Concerns With Long-Term…by: Amber K.
Dodds and Robert S.Nichols
– UK Parliament Considers Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill…by: Emma Thomson
December 13, 2022
– DOL Issues Final Rule Amending Investment Duties Regulation –…by: James Frazier
– Third time lucky or Schrems III? The European Union Data Pact with…by: Diletta De Cicco and James Downes
– Renewed Era of Crypto Assets Growth in Hong Kong by: Jay Lee
– Division I Universities Must Be Ready for Changes to the NCAA…by: Paul V.
Kelly
– U.S.Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument in Case Testing Limits of…
by: Michelle E.Phillips and Christopher M.Repole
– Damages in Pre-Certification Discovery are Premature, Discovery…by: Jenniffer Cabrera
– When Chains Change, Do NFTs Stay The Same? How Hard Forks May Affect…
by: Jason H.Finger
– COVID-19: A Roadmap to Fraud Investigations: Office of Inspector…
by: Stephen D.Bittinger
– DOJ Settlement with Electronic Health Records Provider Highlights…by: Ty E.Howard and Lane M.Webster
– Update: OFCCP Plans to Disclose EEO-1 Data for Non-Objecting…by: Abby M.
Warren
– Increasing US Enforcement Action for Sanctions Violations by Crypto…
by: Hannah Laming and Adam Klauder
– DOJ Antitrust Division and HHS OIG Enter into Partnership to Increase…by: Diane Hazel
– Can Discovery Be Compelled from a Party? Possession, Custody, Control…by: Kathryn C.
Cole
– Weekly Bankruptcy Alert December 13, 2022 by: Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights
– California’s Newly Adopted “Safe Harbor” Warning Label for Acrylamide…by: Taryn McPherson and Whitney Jones Roy
– Considerations for Public Company Bylaw Amendments in View of the New…by: Frank M.Placenti and Doron Lipshitz
– All Things Chemical® Podcast: TSCA Regulation of Articles: The Saga…
by: Lynn L.Bergeson
– Telecom Alert: Providers Support 10-10.5 GHz NPRM; FCC Blocks Student…
by: Jaimy “Sindy” Alarcon and Jim Baller
– New DOL Rule Enables Consideration of ESG Factors in Investing, Plus…by: Johnjerica Hodge and Danette R.
Edwards
– Energy & Sustainability M&A Activity — December 2022 by: Thomas R.Burton, III and Sahir Surmeli
– Court Holds NC State Health Plan Constitutes “Health Program or…by: Caroline Turner English and Alison Lima Andersen
– Energy & Sustainability IP Updates — December 2022 by: Brad M.Scheller
– Another Block Falls: BlockFi Files for Chapter 11 Protection,…
by: David A.Lopez-Kurtz and Alex J.Albers
– SEC Reopens Proposal on Stock Buyback Rules by: Erin Reeves McGinnis
– IRS Announces 2023 Increases to Estate and Gift Tax Exclusions by: Katlyn E.Koegel and Stephen C.Rohr
– FDA Letter States that β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide is Not Lawful…by: Food and Drug Law at Keller and Heckman
– New York City’s Automated Employment Decision Tools Law Enforcement…by: Adam S.Forman and Nathaniel M.
Glasser
– Chips Chatter: December 5-12, 2022 by: Pablo E.Carrillo and Ludmilla L.Kasulke
– FTC Releases Tentative Agenda for December 14 Open Commission Meeting by: Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Privacy and Cybersecurity
– How Many Behavioral Advertising Trackers Do Websites Deploy Currently? by: David A.Zetoony
– FRB Proposes Climate-Related Financial Risk Management Principles by: Daniel Meade
– Energy & Sustainability Litigation Updates — December 2022 by: Jacob H.
Hupart
– Investor-State Arbitration: 2022 ICSID Rule Amendments and Update on…by: Joseph J.Mamounas and Claudia D.
Hartleben
– Warning Sign? A New Round of FDA Warning Letters Over CBD Consumer…by: J.Hunter Robinson and Josh Kleppin
– Cross Border Recognition, 25 years on: the view from each side of the…
by: Michelle N.Saney
– A New Era of Technology in the Private Markets by: Louis Lehot and Christopher Converse
– New York City Postpones Enforcement of Automated Employment Decision…
by: Simone R.D.Francis
– New Law Seeks To Curtail Coerced Debts by: Keith Paul Bishop
– Republican SEC Commissioners Continue to Criticize Proposed Climate…by: Jacob H.Hupart
December 12, 2022
– Raters gonna rate…
but there’s a bright side! by: Daniel B.Guggenheim
– SEC Awards More than $20 Million to Whistleblower by: Mary Jane Wilmoth
– Duty to Preserve Evidence Covers Climate Review by Higher Educational…by: Monica H.Khetarpal and Laura A.Ahrens
– Preliminary Determination of Circumvention Regarding Solar Energy…by: Gregory Husisian and John E.Turlais
– Estate Planning for Football Season Ticket Holders by: Katherine M.Szymanski and Rebecca K.
Wrock
– Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta Issues Statement on 2021 FBI…by: United States Department of Justice (DOJ)
– NLRB General Counsel Proposes Lower Standard for Requiring Employers…by: Adam C.Abrahms and Steven M.
Swirsky
– American Hospital Association Urges DEA to Issue Special Registration…by: Nathaniel M.Lacktman
– EPA Announces $25.7 Million in Grants to Support Water Systems in…by: EPA
– New York State Expands Workplace Protections for Nursing Employees by: Evandro C Gigante and Laura M.
Fant
– Weekly IRS Roundup December 5 – December 9, 2022 by: Tax Practice Group McDermott Will Emery
– CMS Announces Strategy on Value-Based Payments for Specialty Care by: Anahita Anvari
– DOL Proposes Self-Correction Option and Other Changes to Voluntary…by: Justin S Alex
– The City of Los Angeles’ Fair Work Week Ordinance Requires…
by: Tomi Oshita
– Considering Using Biometric Information? Adopt a Biometric Policy Now by: Mike H.Holland and Patrick J.McMahon
– Recent Developments in Telehealth Enforcement by: Sara Helene Shanti and Danielle Vrabie
– ESG INVESTING AND PROXY VOTING: DOL’S NEW FINAL RULE by: Kristina M.
Zanotti and Ruth E.Delaney
– IN A NEW YORK MINUTE, Telemarketing Laws Are Changing! by: Angelika Munger
– Fa-La-La Laws: Employer Liability Issues for Office Holiday Parties by: Katharine O.Beattie and Victoria Stockton Breese
– More Places, Less Spaces: California is Driving Down Development Costs by: Amanda S.
Lee
– Bereavement Leave Becomes Mandatory in the Golden State by: Kaleb N.Berhe
– BETO Postpones December 13, 2022, Webinar on SAF Grand Challenge…
by: Lynn L.Bergeson and Carla N.
Hutton
– New Year Brings New Laws for Illinois Employers by: Mikela T.Sutrina and Katherine H.Oblak
– Decision in U.S.v.
Holland by: Gabriel L.Imperato
– New Jersey Senate Labor Committee WARNs Effective Date of Amendments…by: Mark Diana and Brandon R.Sher
– Crypto Punked? Industry Bankruptcies Rattle Markets and Expose Major…
by: George P.Angelich and Dan Jasnow
– Global M&A Trends: A Wider Slowdown but Still on Track to Surpass…by: Louis Lehot and Brandee L.Diamond
– Top Five Labor Law Developments for November 2022 by: Jonathan J.
Spitz and Richard F.Vitarelli
– “Cold-Pressed Juice” Lawsuit Permanently Dismissed by: Food and Drug Law at Keller and Heckman
– December 2022 AFS Privacy Report: Pandora’s Virtual Try-On Tool…by: Eva J.Pulliam and D.
Reed Freeman Jr.
– USPTO Releases New Guidelines Shortening the Response Deadline in…by: Luna M.
Samman
– ‘No Exit’: SEC Sanctions Investment Adviser for Impeding…by: Peter D.
Hutcheon
– TradeTalk China: December 2 – December 9, 2022 by: Pablo E.Carrillo and Ludmilla L.Kasulke
– $10.3 Million in Grants Awarded to Improve the Health of Long Island…
by: EPA
– RE-STRUC: Tax Changes as of 2023 by: Thomas van der Vliet and Louisa van Isselmuden
– Episode 23: The Emerging Investigatory Focus on Telehealth: What You…
by: Nathaniel M.Lacktman and Maureen M.Stewart
Applying Collateral Estoppel in IPRs
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit considered whether a dependent claim invalidated by collateral estoppel also invalidates its parental independent claim.Google LLC v.Hammond Devel.Int’l, Inc., Case No.21-2218 (Fed.
Cir.
Dec.8, 2022) (Moore, C.J.; Chen, Stoll, JJ.)
The dispute began when Hammond Development sued Google, alleging that Google infringed several of Hammond’s patents on automated voice response systems.In response, Google filed multiple inter partes reviews (IPRs), one of which targeted Hammond’s ’483 patent.In that proceeding, the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (Board) held that all claims of the ’483 patent were obvious.
Hammond did not appeal the decision in this IPR, which then became final, but only after Google filed an IPR against another of Hammond’s patents—the ’816 patent.The ’816 and ’483 patents are in the same family and share the same specification.
In the later-filed IPR, the Board found claims 14 through 19 of the ’816 patent nonobvious and patentable.Google appealed.
Claim 14 is an independent claim and claim 18 depends from it.The parties agreed that the patentability of both claims rose and fell together.On appeal to the Federal Circuit, Google argued that claim 18 was invalid under the doctrine of collateral estoppel based on the prior art that rendered claim 18 of the ’483 patent invalid.
A party seeking to invoke collateral estoppel must show the following:
The issue is identical to one decided in the first action.
The issue was actually litigated in the first action.
Resolution of the issue was essential to a final judgment in the first action.
The party against whom collateral estoppel is being asserted had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue in the first action.
Because the parties had agreed that all but the first of the elements of collateral estoppel were met, collateral estoppel would apply if the issues of patentability were identical between the adjudicated and unadjudicated claims.The Federal Circuit found that slight differences in the claim language of the involved patents were immaterial because they related only to the number of application servers, and Google’s expert had credibly testified that distributing software applications across multiple servers was well known in the art and obvious.
Hammond did not mount a substantive challenge to the expert evidence.As the Court noted, “collateral estoppel may apply even if the patent claims ‘use slightly different language to describe substantially the same invention,’ so long as ‘the differences between the unadjudicated patent claims and adjudicated patent claims do not materially alter the question of invalidity.’”
Google also attacked the validity of independent claim 14 of the ’816 patent.
Although Google’s attack against claim 14 was based on a different combination of references (as compared to claim 18), the Federal Circuit apparently applied collateral estoppel to find claim 14 invalid as well, citing an agreement between the parties that “if claim 18 is unpatentable, then independent claim 14 is as well.”
Finally, Google argued that dependent claims 15 through 17 and 19 were invalid under doctrine of collateral estoppel, but the Federal Circuit noted that Google had failed to raise any collateral estoppel argument against those claims and there was no party agreement as to the similarity of those claims with claims adjudicated in the ’483 patent IPR.Accordingly, the Court held that Google had waived these arguments by not raising them in its opening brief.The Court affirmed the Board’s conclusion that claims 15 through 17 and 19 were patentable and reversed the Board’s finding that claims 18 and 14 were patentable..