Research from Professor Jonas Anderson has led to an equitable-distribution order for a federal judge in Waco, Texas, who currently hears nearly 25% of the nation’s patent cases.
U.S. District Judge Alan Albright of the Western District of Texas, a former Bracewell patent litigator, oversaw a large patent docket because plaintiffs suing for patent infringement often filed their cases in Waco, Texas, where Albright is the only district judge. He is known for his plaintiff-friendly rulings in patent infringement suits.
A law review article written by Professor Jonas Anderson pointed out the problem and called for change and fairness in the form of randomly assigned patent cases.
After advocacy from Senators Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who heavily cited Professor Anderson’s work, new patent cases filed in Waco will now be distributed randomly to 12 other federal judges in the Western District of Texas, according to a July 25 order by Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia.
Read more here:
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