United States Supreme Court

In considering a party's request under the Patent Act's fee-shifting provision, which authorizes district courts to award attorney's fees to prevailing parties in "exceptional cases," district courts may determine whether a case is "exceptional" in the case-by-case exercise of their discretion, considering the totality of the circumstances. The standard set forth in Brooks Furniture Mfg., Inc. v. Dutailier Int’l, Inc., 393 F. 3d 1378, 1381 is rejected because it is unduly rigid and impermissibly encumbers the statutory grant of discretion to district courts.

Appellate Information

• Decided 04/29/2014
• Published 04/29/2014

Judges

• SOTOMAYOR

Court

• United States Supreme Court

Counsel