United States Federal Circuit

In a patent infringement dispute concerning pain relievers, the trial court did not err in holding the patents unenforceable due to inequitable conduct during prosecution before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Appellate Information

• Decided 06/07/2005
• Published 06/08/2005

Judges

• PLAGER, Senior Circuit Judge., Before GAJARSA, Circuit Judge, PLAGER, Senior Circuit Judge, and LINN, Circuit Judge.

Court

• United States Federal Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Michael A. O'Shea, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP, Washington, DC, for amicus curiae International Intellectual Property Institute.   With him on the brief was Shari F. Esfahani., W. Murray Spruill, Alston & Bird LLP, Raleigh, North Carolina, for amicus curiae Biotechnology Industry Organization., Richard A. Samp, Washington Legal Foundation, Washington, DC, for amicus curiae Washington Legal Foundation., Richard L. Rainey, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for amicus curiae Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.   With him on the brief was Darrel C. Karl., John F. Duffy, George Washington University Law School, Washington, DC, for amici curiae Law Professor John F. Duffy, et al., Eric J. Lobenfeld, Hogan & Hartson L.L.P., New York, New York, for amicus curiae Congressman Darrell Issa., Milton M. Oliver, Ware, Fressola, Van der Sluys & Adolphson LLP, Monroe, Connecticut, for amicus curiae Richard L. Edelson, M.D.


• For Appellees:
  
• Herbert F. Schwartz, Fish & Neave LLP [now known as Fish & Neave IP group of Ropes & Gray LLP], New York, New York, filed a combined petition for panel rehearing and rehearing en banc for plaintiffs/counterclaim defendants-appellants.   Of counsel were Edward C. DuMont, Jonathan G. Cedarbaum, and Seth P. Waxman, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Washington, DC;  Pablo D. Hendler, Duane-David Hough, Gerald J. Flattmann, Jr., Richard A. Inz, and Denise L. Loring, Ropes & Gray LLP, New York, New York. Of counsel was Robert J. Goldman, Palo Alto, California., Edward V. Filardi, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, filed a response to the petition for defendant-cross appellant defendant/counterclaimant-cross appellant and defendant-cross appellant.   With him on the response were Constance S. Huttner, and Douglas R. Nemec.   Of counsel were David L. Cohen, and Mark D. Baker.   Of counsel on the response were Nicholas L. Coch and Donald L. Rhoads, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, New York, New York.