Daily Briefs

 USPTO?to hold public roundtable for patent review proceedings 

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will hold a public roundtable at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s Auburn Hills Campus, on April 24, 2014, to discuss the new post-grant patent review procedures under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA). 

Cooley Professor David C. Berry, director of the Graduate Program in Intellectual Property Law, notes the roundtable, one of eight held across the country, is particularly important to the public. 
He notes the roundtable program will feature USPTO administrators, several Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) judges and practitioners currently involved in Inter Partes Review (IPR) and Covered Business Method (CBM) proceedings. The PTAB is seeking feedback about trial procedures and will provide an opportunity at the session for public input.
The USPTO has scheduled this roundtable, which is free and open to the public, for Thursday, April 24, 2014 from 1-5 p.m. at 2630 Featherstone Road, Auburn Hills, Mich. Following the program, the Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan will host a reception at the Cooley from 5-7 p.m.
 

Mich. court revives scared-to-death case 

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Was an 85-year-old driver literally scared to death?
The Michigan appeals court has revived a lawsuit related to the death of Adbulla Kassem, whose car slammed into the rear of a truck in Dearborn in 2008.
There was no autopsy. But a doctor hired by Kassem’s estate believes he may have died of a heart attack caused by a fear of the upcoming crash.
Wayne County Judge Kathleen MacDonald threw out Dr. Werner Spitz’ opinion as speculation and dismissed the lawsuit against a trucking company, Efficient Hauling Services. But the appeals court last week said the testimony is admissible.
Kassem’s estate claims the crash occurred because a truck bumper in the wrong position blocked tail lights.
 

Court rules against grandma in custody 

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court has overturned a decision that favored a Florida woman as guardian for grandchildren in Michigan.
The court says Lori Scribner doesn’t get an advantage under state law just because she’s a relative. The court on Tuesday unanimously reversed an opinion from the appeals court and said a Muskegon County judge made the right call.
The case is returning to the appeals court for work on other issues.

––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available