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Government Claims for Clean-Up Costs Related to Cold-War-Era Contracts Rebuffed

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 10.10.12

On September 30, a federal court dismissed the government's claims for clean-up costs associated with groundwater contamination resulting from Cold-War-era Air Force contracts for certain rockets. Dismissal of the government's claims, which alleged perchlorate and trichloroethylene contamination, was based in part on "hold harmless" language in Air Force facilities contracts and continues the trend of recent decisions in cases involving the government's obligation to pay for environmental remediation costs stemming from work performed under government contracts.


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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:...