Jessica M. Karmasek News
U.S. House committee approves TROL Act
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee voted Wednesday to approve the Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters, or TROL, Act.
Senators introduce PATENT Act; opponents claim it misses the mark, supporters call it ‘strong’ and ‘balanced’
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced their own legislation aimed at ending patent abuses Wednesday.
U.S. PTO’s patents commissioner set to retire
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Commissioner for Patents Margaret “Peggy” Focarino will retire this summer.
Ala. lawmakers send bill reversing state SC’s ‘innovator liability’ decision to governor
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - Alabama lawmakers have passed a bill that would overturn a state Supreme Court ruling that held a brand-name drug manufacturer can be liable for physical injuries caused by a generic drug product that it neither made nor sold.
U.S. SC rules against natural gas companies
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that some of the nation’s largest natural gas suppliers can be sued under state antitrust laws for allegedly manipulating prices a decade ago.
U.S. SC still hasn’t decided if it will take up Wis. ‘John Doe’ lawsuit
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court still hasn’t decided whether it will hear a lawsuit seeking to quash a secret, or “John Doe,” investigation into Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s 2012 recall campaign.
Medical device companies say Innovation Act could have ‘chilling effect’
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A group of medical device companies says it is concerned about a House-introduced patent reform bill, calling it “far-reaching.”
Wash. patent troll bill signed into law
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee signed Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s patent troll bill into law over the weekend.
U.S. PTO invalidates key claims of Texas company’s podcasting patent
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office this month revoked key elements of a controversial podcasting patent.
House subcommittee moves forward with patent TROL bill
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A U.S. House subcommittee has advanced a piece of patent reform legislation that would rein in abusive demand letters.
Federal judge won’t block Wis. chief justice amendment
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has refused to halt the implementation of a constitutional amendment approved by voters this month changing the method by which the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s chief justice is selected.
DOJ sues HCR Manor Care, alleges it provided medically unnecessary services
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Legal Newsline) - The federal government is suing skilled nursing chain HCR Manor Care, alleging that the health care provider “knowingly and routinely” submitted false claims for services that were not medically reasonable and necessary.
Cohen Milstein law firm strengthening relationships with state AGs, earning millions
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Plaintiffs law firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll has donated more than $70,000 to various state attorney general campaigns in the last five years.
Bill would allow U.S. PTO to keep, use all collected fees
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Last week, a bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers introduced legislation that would allow the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to retain and use all of the user fees it collects.
Rhode Island Senate passes AG’s patent reform bill
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - The Rhode Island Senate has passed a patent reform bill that was filed on behalf of Attorney General Peter Kilmartin last month.
Bill to elect AG heads to Tenn. House
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Legal Newsline) - A bill that would change the way Tennessee’s attorney general is chosen has cleared another hurdle.
Federal judge again sides with Google, forces Miss. AG to hand over documents
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge again has ruled against Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood in his efforts to investigate Internet search giant Google Inc.
Ala. law firm, known for Shatner commercials, claims it lost clients due to poor voicemail service
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - An Alabama personal injury law firm, known for its television commercials featuring famed actor William Shatner, filed a lawsuit in federal court last week against a communications provider for failing to provide “reliable” cloud-based phone service.
Universities refuse to back Innovation Act, argue legislative efforts need to be more ‘narrowly tailored’
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Two coalitions of universities say they will not back a piece of House-introduced legislation aimed at targeting so-called “patent trolls.”
Former Nev. AG announces bid for Reid’s U.S. Senate seat
CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) - Former Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto last week launched her campaign for U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s seat in 2016.