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Courts Continue to Differ over Timing of Claims Construction: Markman v. Westview Still a Definining Element

James Flynn

In the two courts (the Northern District of California and the Southern District of Texas) that have substantially revised (N.D.Ca.) or adopted (S.D.Tex.) local patent rules effective in 2008, one has opted for an early approach to <i>Markman v. Westview</i> (N.D.Ca.) and the other (S.D.Tex.) has left it largely to the discretion of individual judges. This recent contrast highlights the continuing differences of opinion as to the best approach to <i>Markman</i> hearings and their timing.

Features

In the Marketplace

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Highlights of the latest equipment leasing news from around the country.

Recovering the Value of Preferential Transfers of Goods or Equipment: Seller Beware

Norman N. Kinel & Timothy A. Solomon

Imagine you are an equipment manufacturer. You sell $45 million in goods to a reliable customer on credit, shipping them to a third-party warehouse to be held for the customer to pick up when needed. Months later, unable to pay and sliding toward bankruptcy, the customer returns the unused equipment. The next thing you know, the customer, having filed for bankruptcy, sues YOU to recover not only the $45 million value of the returned equipment, but also an additional $55 million in cash payments the customer had made.

Features

Truck Leasing in a Down Economy: How to Prepare

Edward Castagna

The apparent downturn of the economy is currently most prevalent in the trucking sector, which saw a dramatic increase in repossessions and liquidations in the past year. This article discusses strategic options for lessors.

Features

Business Incentives in the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008: A Welcome Boost for the Leasing Industry

Bill Bosco

This article explains the terms of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 that impact the leasing industry, explains how the terms in the act are likely to affect leasing companies, and explains how leasing companies can benefit from them.

News Briefs

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Highlights of the latest franchising news from around the country.

Features

Movers & Shakers

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

News about lawyers and law firms in the franchising industry.

Court Watch

Charles G. Miller & C. Griffith Towle

Highlights of the latest franchising cases from around the country.

Features

Termination Notice Traps: How to Avoid Common Mistakes

Daniel S. Kaplan

Often, franchisors assume there is a 'one size fits all' termination notice and that their notice will, in fact, terminate the relationship. All too often, however, a poorly drafted or ill-conceived termination notice provides ammunition for a wrongful termination claim, justification for the unenforceability of post-termination provisions, or even rescission of the franchise agreement.

Features

False Advertising: Eleventh Circuit Makes It Harder for Franchisees to Bring Cases Against Franchisors

Eric Schroeder

In a battle of fast food restaurants, a local Florida Burger King franchisee sued McDonald's for false advertising, only to have the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals rule that the franchisee could not show that it had standing to bring its claim, despite the fact that the franchisee directly competed against McDonald's restaurants. The ruling highlights a split in the circuit courts that may have to be resolved by the Supreme Court, as the ruling differs from the law of other circuits that generally have allowed 'direct competitors' of the advertiser to sue for false advertising as long as they allege they have been injured by the ad.

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