Legal Definitions - U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, often referred to by its acronym C.A.F.C., is a unique federal appellate court in the United States. Unlike other federal appeals courts that oversee specific geographic regions, the C.A.F.C. has nationwide jurisdiction over particular types of legal disputes. Its primary role is to ensure consistency and expertise in specialized areas of law that frequently involve the federal government.

The C.A.F.C. hears appeals from various lower courts and administrative agencies across the country, but only for specific subject matters. These specialized areas include:

• Intellectual Property: Cases involving patents, and sometimes trademarks or copyrights, particularly those originating from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• International Trade: Disputes related to customs, tariffs, and import/export regulations, often appealed from the U.S. Court of International Trade.
• Government Contracts: Challenges to decisions made regarding contracts between private entities and the federal government.
• Federal Employee Benefits and Civil Service Matters: Appeals concerning federal employees' rights, benefits, and disciplinary actions.
• Veterans' Claims: Appeals from the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
• Claims Against the U.S. Government: Appeals from the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, which handles monetary claims against the federal government.

Here are some examples illustrating when a case might be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:

• Example 1: Patent Infringement Dispute

  Imagine a small medical device company invents a groundbreaking surgical tool and secures a patent for it. Later, a larger competitor releases a very similar tool, leading the small company to sue for patent infringement in a federal district court. If the district court rules that the small company's patent is invalid, the small company would appeal that decision. Because the case involves patent law, the appeal would go directly to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, rather than the regional circuit court of appeals.

  This example demonstrates the C.A.F.C.'s exclusive jurisdiction over appeals in patent cases, ensuring a consistent interpretation of patent law across the nation.

• Example 2: Challenge to a Government Contract Award

  A construction firm submits a bid to build a new facility for a federal agency. After the contract is awarded to a different company, the firm believes there were irregularities in the bidding process that violated federal procurement regulations. They challenge the award before an administrative body, which upholds the government's decision. If the construction firm wishes to appeal this administrative ruling, their case would be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

  This illustrates the C.A.F.C.'s role in reviewing disputes related to federal government contracts, providing a specialized forum for such complex matters.

• Example 3: International Trade Tariff Dispute

  An importer brings a shipment of specialized electronic components into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection classifies the components under a tariff code that results in a higher duty than the importer believes is correct. The importer challenges this classification in the U.S. Court of International Trade, but the court rules against them. To further appeal this decision, the importer would take their case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

  This example highlights the C.A.F.C.'s appellate authority over decisions from the U.S. Court of International Trade, centralizing expertise in international trade law.