Bad Estimates Support Constructive Change Without Proof of Government Negligence
Client Alert | 1 min read | 07.10.13
In IAP World Servs., Inc. v. Dep't of Treasury (June 20, 2013), the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals held the government liable when a maintenance contractor's service calls took longer to perform than calls in historical data furnished to prospective offerors and the government had said the historical data were a "reasonable basis" for firm-fixed-price proposals. Finding that the contractor had relied on the faulty data to price its proposal and that the contractor need not prove government negligence, the CBCA decided that the longer service calls were a constructive change to the contract and awarded the contractor its increased costs of performance.
Contacts
Insights
Client Alert | 6 min read | 11.26.25
From ‘Second’ to ‘First:’ Federal Circuit Tackles Obvious Claim Errors
Patent claims must be clear and definite, as they set the boundaries of the patentee’s rights. Occasionally, however, claim language contains errors, such as typographical mistakes or incorrect numbering. Courts possess very limited authority to correct such errors. The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has emphasized that judicial correction is appropriate only in rare circumstances, where (1) the error is evident from the face of the patent, and (2) the proposed correction is the sole reasonable interpretation in view of the claim language, specification, and prosecution history. See Group One, Ltd. v. Hallmark Cards, Inc., 407 F.3d 1297, 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2005) and Novo Indus., L.P. v. Micro Molds Corp., 350 F.3d 1348, 1357 (Fed. Cir. 2003).
Client Alert | 5 min read | 11.26.25
Client Alert | 6 min read | 11.25.25
Brussels Court Clarifies the EU’s SPC Manufacturing Waiver Regulation Rules
Client Alert | 3 min read | 11.24.25
