Oatlands Historic House in Leesburg, VA was built in 1804 and is recognized as one of the finest federal-period country estate homes in the country. The home and approximately 400 surrounding acres were donated to the National Trust for Historic
Virginia Rocket Docket Blog
Timely insight on civil litigation in the federal court for the Eastern District of Virginia
The Virginia Rocket Docket Blog, published by Troutman Pepper Locke, focuses on legal developments and court decisions in the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA). It covers topics such as arbitration clause enforceability in online contracts, sanctions related to attorneys' use of artificial intelligence, preliminary injunctions in employment and trade secret disputes, patent term adjustments and USPTO procedures, and standards for expert witness testimony in securities litigation. The blog highlights practical implications of recent rulings on contract law, intellectual property, employment agreements, litigation strategy, and evidentiary standards in federal court.
Latest from Virginia Rocket Docket Blog - Page 3
EDVA Judge Denies Motion to Strike New Evidence in Reply Brief and Transfers Patent Case to California
In an October 3 decision, U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Ellis III granted a motion to transfer venue of a patent case brought in the EDVA to California under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). Monarch Networking Solutions LLC .v Juniper Networks…
Suit for Copyright Infringement of Architectural Plans Allowed to Move Forward
In a September 22 decision, District Judge David J. Novak denied the bulk of a motion to dismiss a suit alleging that a general contractor had infringed an architectural firm’s copyright on design plans for a brewery and tasting room…
EDVA Judge Rules That Geolocation Patents Are Invalid Under 35 U.S.C. § 101
On September 18, in identical opinions issued in separate cases against Google and Apple, EDVA District Judge Michael Nachmanoff ruled that four patents directed toward geolocation of mobile devices claimed patent-ineligible subject matter under 35 U.S.C. § 101. Geoscope Technologies…
Fourth Circuit Now Permits Awarding Attorney’s Fees for Some Preliminary Injunctions, Bucking Precedent
Plaintiffs who secure a preliminary injunction may now be able to recover attorney’s fees in the Eastern District of Virginia, due to the Fourth Circuit’s departure from its previous position that such plaintiffs are not “prevailing parties” for purposes of…
Using a Company Witness as a Subject Matter Expert on a Company’s Products
It is common in commercial litigation for a company to offer an employee as a witness to testify about the design, capabilities and features of the company’s products or services. Usually, such a witness testifies as a fact witness offering…
Pro Hac Vice, Ye Be Warned: A Cautionary Tale to Out-of-State Attorneys and Their Local Counsel
On August 23, Judge Rebecca Beach Smith issued a notable decision that serves as a stern warning to out-of-state counsel seeking to practice in the Eastern District — and, perhaps more so, to the local counsel who choose to associate…
Virginia Moves to Dismiss Suit Claiming Denial of Voting Rights to Felons Violates Civil War Era Statute
In June, four individuals and an advocacy organization for previously incarcerated individuals brought suit in the Eastern District of Virginia against several state and local officials alleging that Virginia was denying voting rights to some felons in violation of an…
EDVA Judges Wade Into Circuit Split Over Certifying FLSA Collective Actions
In an August 11 decision, Judge Henry Hudson of the EDVA conditionally certified a class of food service workers employed by a federal contractor at Fort Pickett who sued for unpaid overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).…