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Romag Fasteners Inc. v. Fossil Inc.

Docket No.18-1233
Op. BelowFed. Cir.
ArgumentJan 14, 2020

Holding

A plaintiff in a trademark infringement suit is not required to show that a defendant willfully infringed the plaintiff's trademark as a precondition to an award of profits.

Judgment

Vacated and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Neil Gorsuch on Apr 23, 2020. Justice Alito filed a concurring opinion, in which Justices Breyer and Kagan joined. Justice Sotomayor filed an opinion concurring in the judgment.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Mar 22, 2019
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 22, 2019)
Apr 2, 2019
Supplemental brief of petitioner Romag Fasteners, Inc. filed.
Apr 2, 2019
Motion to extend the time to file a response from April 22, 2019 to May 22, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
Apr 4, 2019
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including May 22, 2019.
May 22, 2019
Brief of respondents Fossil, Inc., et al. in opposition filed.
May 30, 2019
Letter from counsel for petitioner waiving the 14-day waiting period under Rule 15.5 filed.
Jun 4, 2019
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/20/2019.
Jun 4, 2019
Reply of petitioner Romag Fasteners, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
Jun 26, 2019
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/27/2019.
Jun 28, 2019
Petition GRANTED.
Jul 12, 2019
Joint motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.
Jul 17, 2019
Joint motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including September 13, 2019. The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including November 26, 2019.
Aug 12, 2019
Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Romag Fasteners, Inc.
Aug 19, 2019
Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, Fossil, Inc., et al.
Sep 13, 2019
Brief of petitioner Romag Fasteners, Inc. filed.
Sep 13, 2019
Joint appendix filed.
Sep 19, 2019
Brief amicus curiae of The American Bar Association filed.
Sep 20, 2019
Brief amicus curiae of The American Intellectual Property Law Association in support of neither party filed.
Sep 20, 2019
Brief amicus curiae of International Trademark Association in support of neither party filed.
Sep 20, 2019
Brief amicus curiae of The Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago in support of neither party filed.
Sep 20, 2019
Brief amicus curiae of Intellectual Property Owners Association in support of neither party filed.
Nov 6, 2019
Motion for a further extension of time to file respondents' brief on the merits filed.
Nov 8, 2019
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, January 14, 2020.
Nov 20, 2019
Motion to further extend the time to file respondents' brief on the merits is granted, and the time is extended to and including November 27, 2019.
Nov 26, 2019
CIRCULATED
Nov 27, 2019
Brief of respondents Fossil, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
Dec 3, 2019
Record requested from the U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit.
Dec 4, 2019
Brief amici curiae of Intellectual Property Law Professors filed. (Distributed)
Dec 4, 2019
The record received from the U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit is electronic and located on PACER, this record is complete.
Dec 27, 2019
Reply of petitioner Romag Fasteners, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
Jan 14, 2020
Argued. For petitioner: Lisa S. Blatt, Washington, D. C. For respondents: Neal K. Katyal, Washington, D. C.
Apr 23, 2020
Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Gorsuch, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Thomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Kagan, and Kavanaugh, JJ., joined. Alito, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Breyer and Kagan, JJ., joined. Sotomayor, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment.
May 26, 2020
JUDGMENT ISSUED.

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