NOTE: This order is nonprecedential.
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
2008-1257, 2009-1317
(Reexamination No. 90/007,327)
IN RE SAMI CHEMICALS AND EXTRACTS, LTD.
Appeals from the United States Patent and Trademark Office,
Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.
ON MOTION
Before BRYSON Circuit Judge.
ORDER
Sami Chemicals and Extracts, Ltd. moves to continue the stay of the briefing
schedule in 2008-1257 pending a decision in 2009-1317 and any further action by the
United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). The Acting Director of the PTO
opposes. Sami replies. The PTO moves to dismiss 2008-1257. Sami opposes. The
Acting Director replies.
Sami sought ex parte reexamination of its patent. A final rejection was issued
and appealed to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. The Board reversed
the rejection of two claims but sustained the remainder of the rejections. Sami
concurrently filed a notice of appeal seeking review by this court and a petition
requesting continued examination by the PTO. Sami's notice of appeal seeking review
of the Board's decision was docketed as 2008-1257. On Sami's motion, the court
granted a limited remand to allow the PTO to consider Sami's petition to continue
examination. The PTO denied the petition. However, the Board sua sponte permitted
Sarni to file a request for rehearing of the Board's original decision. The Board denied
Sami's request for rehearing. Sami filed a notice of appeal seeking review of the
Board's denial of rehearing, and that appeal was docketed as 2009-1317.
Sami requests that the court continue the stay in 2008-1257 pending disposition
of 2009-1317 and subsequent action by the PTO, if necessary. Sami argues that this
will spare the parties needless briefing and promote judicial economy. The Acting
Director contends that 2008-1257 seeks review of the Board's original decision, which
was superseded by the Board's rehearing decision. The Acting Director argues that the
original Board decision is no longer a final agency action and cannot be appealed; thus,
2008-1257 should be dismissed. Sami contends that rehearing by the Board may not
have been within the scope of the limited remand and thus requests that the court not
dismiss 2008-1257.
The court determines that the better course is for the parties to address the
court's jurisdiction with respect to 2008-1257 in their briefs, if they wish. Because the
two appeals involve review of the Board's original decision and the Board's rehearing
decision, the court determines that a continuation of the stay is not appropriate and that
the appeals should be consolidated.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED THAT:
Sami's motion to continue the stay is denied.
The Acting Director's motion to dismiss is denied.
(3) The appeals are consolidated. The revised official caption is reflected
above.
2008-1257, 2009-1317 2
(4) Sami is directed to file a single brief incorporating arguments concerning
both appeals no later than August 21, 2009. The Acting Director is directed to file a
single brief incorporating arguments concerning both appeals within 40 days of the date
of service of Sami's brief. Sami is directed to file a single reply brief incorporating
arguments concerning both appeals within 14 days of the date of service of the Acting
Director's brief.
FOR THE COURT
JUN12 2009 /s/ Jan Horbaly
Date Jan Horbaly
Clerk
cc: Richard J. Berman, Esq.
U^tHE g car"
Raymond T. Chen, Esq.
JUN 12 2009
s17
JAN HOkbhu
CLERK
2008-1257, 2009-1317 3