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Supreme Court to Rule on Seal Rule

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 06.02.16

The Supreme Court has granted review in State Farm Fire and Cas. Co. v. U.S. ex rel. Rigsby to address the applicable standard for dismissal in False Claims Act cases when whistleblowers, in violation of the statute’s requirements, make public the allegations in their complaint while it is under seal and being investigated by the government. The Court will address a split in which circuits have applied (1) a bright-line rule of dismissal, (2) a rule that considers whether the violation frustrates the congressional goals served by the seal requirement, and (3) a balancing test that focuses on whether the violation actually harms the government.

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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:...