1. Home
  2. |Insights
  3. |VA Allowed to Disregard Vet Preference

VA Allowed to Disregard Vet Preference

Client Alert | 1 min read | 06.13.14

In Kingdomware Techs., Inc. v. U.S. (June 3, 2014), a majority of a Federal Circuit panel held that the language of the Veterans Act stating that the VA "shall award contracts on the basis of competition restricted to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans" whenever the VA identifies two or more viable competitors was not actually a mandatory requirement, but could be used or not by the VA to meet its annual goals for contract awards to Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). The dissenting judge, agreeing with the contrary interpretation of GAO, argued Congress had made the provision mandatory so that the VA would meet its goals.


Contacts

Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 12.04.25

District Court Grants Preliminary Injunction Against Seller of Gray Market Snack Food Products

On November 12, 2025, Judge King in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington granted in part Haldiram India Ltd.’s (“Plaintiff” or “Haldiram”) motion for a preliminary injunction against Punjab Trading, Inc. (“Defendant” or “Punjab Trading”), a seller alleged to be importing and distributing gray market snack food products not authorized for sale in the United States. The court found that Haldiram was likely to succeed on the merits of its trademark infringement claim because the products at issue, which were intended for sale in India, were materially different from the versions intended for sale in the U.S., and for this reason were not genuine products when sold in the U.S. Although the court narrowed certain overbroad provisions in the requested order, it ultimately enjoined Punjab Trading from importing, selling, or assisting others in selling the non-genuine Haldiram products in the U.S. market....