Check For Weed

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 02.19.10

In Agredano v. U.S. (Feb. 17, 2010), the Federal Circuit reversed the Court of Federal Claims decision that Customs and Border Protection breached an implied-in-fact warranty when it sold a car at auction containing concealed marijuana, drugs that ultimately resulted in the purchaser spending a year in a Mexican prison. The Federal Circuit held there was no implied-in-fact warranty that the car did not contain contraband, finding there was no meeting of the minds required to form such a warranty because Customs' regulatory duty to remove contraband from the forfeited vehicle did not create a contractual obligation and the agency had expressly disclaimed any and all warranties at the auction.

Insights

Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.11.25

Director Squires Revamps the Workings of the U.S. Patent Office

In March 2025, President Trump nominated John A. Squires for the positions of Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After being approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20-2, Squires was confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 2025, by a vote of 51-47 after anti-filibuster measures were invoked. During and after the confirmation process, Squires emphasized several goals for the USPTO during his time as Director. Such goals included:...