SCA Hygiene Products Aktiebolag v. First Quality Baby Products, LLC
| Docket No. | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-927 | Nov 1, 2016 | Apr 23, 2025 | 7-1 | Alito | OT 2016 |
Holding: Laches cannot be invoked as a defense against a claim for damages brought within the six-year limitations period of Section 286 of the Patent Act.
Judgment: Vacated in part and remanded, 7-1, in an opinion by Justice Alito on April 23, 2025. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Justices reject application of laches in patent cases (Ronald Mann, March 21, 2017)
- Argument analysis: Justices seem untroubled by concerns about patent plaintiffs lying in wait for innocent defendants (Ronald Mann, November 2, 2016)
- Argument preview: Stakes are high as justices consider laches as a bar to patent damage suits (Ronald Mann, October 25, 2016)
- Useful or creative: A look at design protection (Lyle Denniston, May 2, 2016)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| 11/18/2015 | Application (15A546) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from December 17, 2015 to January 19, 2016, submitted to The Chief Justice. |
| 11/23/2015 | Application (15A546) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until January 19, 2016. |
| 01/19/2016 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 22, 2016) |
| 01/29/2016 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for petitioners. |
| 02/11/2016 | Order extending time to file response to petition to and including March 23, 2016. |
| 02/19/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of The Toro Company filed. |
| 02/22/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of ART+Com Innovationpool, GmbH filed. |
| 02/22/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of Medinol Ltd. filed. |
| 03/22/2016 | Brief of respondents First Quality Baby Products, LLC, et al. in opposition filed. |
| 04/05/2016 | Reply of petitioners SCA Hygiene Products Aktiebolag, et al. filed. |
| 04/06/2016 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of April 22, 2016. |
| 04/25/2016 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of April 29, 2016. |
| 05/02/2016 | Petition GRANTED. |
| 05/20/2016 | The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including July 15, 2016. |
| 05/20/2016 | The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including September 12, 2016. |
| 05/25/2016 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioners. |
| 07/15/2016 | Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.) |
| 07/15/2016 | Supplemental joint appendix filed. |
| 07/15/2016 | Brief of petitioners SCA Hygiene Products Aktiebolag, et al. filed. |
| 07/20/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of Intellectual Property Owners Association in support of neither party filed. |
| 07/21/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of Medinol Ltd. filed. |
| 07/22/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of ART+Com Innovationpool, GmbH filed. |
| 07/22/2016 | Brief amici curiae of Law Professors filed. |
| 07/22/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of The American Bar Association filed. |
| 07/22/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of The Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago in support of neither party filed. |
| 07/22/2016 | Brief amici curiae of Alliance of Inventor Groups filed. |
| 07/22/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of American Intellectual Property Law Association in support of neither party filed. |
| 09/02/2016 | SET FOR ARGUMENT On Tuesday, November 1, 2016 |
| 09/07/2016 | Brief amici curiae of Electronic Frontier Foundation and Public Knowledge filed. |
| 09/09/2016 | Record has been requested from the U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit. |
| 09/12/2016 | Brief of respondents First Quality Baby Products, LLC, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| 09/15/2016 | Record received from the U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit is electronic and located on PACER. Also from the U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit are Confidential documents filed electroniclly. |
| 09/19/2016 | Brief amici curiae of Briggs & Stratton Corporation, et al. filed. |
| 09/19/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of Askeladden, LLC filed. |
| 09/19/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of Cook Medical LLC filed. |
| 09/19/2016 | Brief amici curiae of Dell, et al. filed. |
| 09/19/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of Washington Legal Foundation filed. |
| 09/19/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of Universal Remote Control, Inc. filed. |
| 09/19/2016 | Brief amici curiae of Johnson & Johnson and Cordis Corporation filed. |
| 09/19/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. filed. |
| 09/28/2016 | CIRCULATED |
| 10/12/2016 | Reply of petitioners SCA Hygiene Products Aktiebolag, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| 11/01/2016 | Argued. For petitioners: Martin J. Black, Philadelphia, Pa. For respondents: Seth P. Waxman, Washington, D. C. |
| 03/21/2017 | Adjudged to be VACATED IN PART, and case REMANDED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Breyer, J., filed a dissenting opinion. |
| 04/24/2017 | JUDGMENT ISSUED. |