Stryker Corp. v. Zimmer Inc.
Consolidated with:
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-1520 | Fed. Cir. | Feb 23, 2016 | Jun 13, 2016 | 8-0 | Roberts | OT 2015 |
Holding: Section 284 of the Patent Act provides that, in a case of infringement, courts “may increase the damages up to three times the amount found or assessed.” Under the Federal Circuit's two-part Seagate test, damages may be increased under Section 284 only if the patent owner can show, by clear and convincing evidence, both that “the infringer acted despite an objectively high likelihood that its actions constituted infringement of a valid patent” and that the risk of infringement “was either known or so obvious that it should have been known to the accused infringer.” The Seagate test is “unduly rigid” and not consistent with the text of Section 284.
Judgment: Vacated and remanded, 8-0, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on June 13, 2016. Justice Breyer filed a concurring opinion, in which Justices Kennedy and Alito joined.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Where have I read this before? Justices tread familiar path limiting Federal Circuit control over remedies in patent cases (Ronald Mann, June 16, 2016)
- Argument analysis: Justices unsettled on standard for enhanced damages in patent cases (Ronald Mann, February 24, 2016)
- Argument preview: Justices to consider standard for enhanced damages in patent cases (Ronald Mann, February 16, 2016)
- Court takes on new energy pricing dispute (Lyle Denniston, October 19, 2015)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| Jun 22 2015 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 24, 2015) |
| Jul 24 2015 | Brief of respondents Zimmer, Inc., and Zimmer Surgical, Inc. in opposition filed. |
| Jul 24 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Independent Inventor Groups filed. (Distributed) |
| Jul 24 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Nokia Technologies OY, and Nokia USA Inc. filed. |
| Aug 6 2015 | Reply of petitioners Stryker Corporation, et al. filed. |
| Aug 12 2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 28, 2015. |
| Oct 5 2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 9, 2015. |
| Oct 13 2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 16, 2015. |
| Oct 19 2015 | Petition GRANTED. The petition for a writ of certiorari in No. 14-1513 is granted limited to Question 1 presented by the petition. The cases are consolidated and a total of one hour is allotted for oral argument. |
| Nov 11 2015 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioners. |
| Nov 19 2015 | The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' briefs on the merits is extended to and including December 9, 2015. VIDED |
| Nov 19 2015 | The time to file respondents' briefs on the merits is extended to and including January 13, 2016. VIDED |
| Dec 9 2015 | Brief of petitioners Stryker Corporation, et al. filed. |
| Dec 9 2015 | Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.) |
| Dec 9 2015 | Supplemental appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.) |
| Dec 14 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Mentor Graphics Corp., et al. in support of neither party filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 15 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Public Knowledge, The Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Engine Advocacy in support of neither party filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 16 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of the United States filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 16 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Small Inventors filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 16 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Intellectual Property Professors in support of neither party filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 16 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Nokia Technologies Oy and Nokia USA Inc. filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 16 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Licensing Executives Society (U.S.A. and Canada), Inc. in support of neither party filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 16 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Innovention Toys, LLC filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 16 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Intellectual Property Owners Association in support of neither party filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 16 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Askeladden LLC in support of neither party filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 16 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of American Intellectual Property Law Association in support of neither party filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 16 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Ericsson Inc. in support of neither party filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 16 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Professor Mossoff in support of neither party filed. VIDED. |
| Dec 23 2015 | SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, February 23, 2016 |
| Jan 4 2016 | Record requested from U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit. |
| Jan 12 2016 | Record received from U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit is electronic and located on PACER with the exception of Joint Appendix Vols. 1-3. |
| Jan 13 2016 | Brief of respondents Zimmer, Inc. and Zimmer Surgical, Inc. filed. |
| Jan 15 2016 | CIRCULATED. |
| Jan 19 2016 | Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed. VIDED. |
| Jan 20 2016 | Joint motion for divided argument filed by respondents. VIDED. |
| Jan 20 2016 | Brief amicus curiae of BSA I The Software Alliance filed. VIDED. (Distributed) |
| Jan 20 2016 | Brief amici curiae of Intel Corp., et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed) |
| Jan 20 2016 | Brief amicus curiae of Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. filed. VIDED. (Distributed) |
| Jan 20 2016 | Brief amicus curiae of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. filed. VIDED. (Distributed) |
| Jan 20 2016 | Brief amici curiae of Dell, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed) |
| Jan 20 2016 | Brief amici curiae of Certain Members of Congress filed. VIDED. (Distributed) |
| Jan 20 2016 | Brief amicus curiae of EMC Corporation filed. VIDED. (Distributed) |
| Jan 20 2016 | Brief amici curiae of Google Inc., et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed) |
| Jan 20 2016 | Brief amici curiae of Internet Companies filed. VIDED. (Distributed) |
| Jan 25 2016 | Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED. VIDED |
| Jan 25 2016 | Joint motion for divided argument filed by respondents DENIED. VIDED |
| Feb 12 2016 | Reply of petitioners Stryker Corporation, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| Feb 23 2016 | Argued. For petitioners: Jeffrey B. Wall, Washington, D. C.; and Roman Martinez, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondents: Carter G. Phillips, Washington, D. C. VIDED |
| Feb 23 2016 | Letter dated February 18, 2016, amending the Corporate Disclosure Statement, received from counsel for respondent Zimmer, Inc. on February 23,2016. (Distributed) |
| Jun 13 2016 | Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Breyer, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Kennedy and Alito, JJ., joined. |
| Jul 15 2016 | JUDGMENT ISSUED |
| Jul 25 2016 | AMENDED JUDGMENT ISSUED |
