NOTE: This order is nonprecedential.

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

2008-1257, 2009-1317

(Reexamination No. 90/007,327)

IN RE SAMI CHEMICALS AND EXTRACTS, LTD.

Appeals from the United States Patent and Trademark Office,

Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.

ON MOTION

Before BRYSON Circuit Judge.

ORDER 

Sami Chemicals and Extracts, Ltd. moves to continue the stay of the briefing

schedule in 2008-1257 pending a decision in 2009-1317 and any further action by the

United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). The Acting Director of the PTO

opposes. Sami replies. The PTO moves to dismiss 2008-1257. Sami opposes. The

Acting Director replies.

Sami sought ex parte reexamination of its patent. A final rejection was issued

and appealed to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. The Board reversed

the rejection of two claims but sustained the remainder of the rejections. Sami

concurrently filed a notice of appeal seeking review by this court and a petition

requesting continued examination by the PTO. Sami's notice of appeal seeking review

of the Board's decision was docketed as 2008-1257. On Sami's motion, the court

granted a limited remand to allow the PTO to consider Sami's petition to continue

examination. The PTO denied the petition. However, the Board sua sponte permitted
Sarni to file a request for rehearing of the Board's original decision. The Board denied

Sami's request for rehearing. Sami filed a notice of appeal seeking review of the

Board's denial of rehearing, and that appeal was docketed as 2009-1317.

Sami requests that the court continue the stay in 2008-1257 pending disposition

of 2009-1317 and subsequent action by the PTO, if necessary. Sami argues that this

will spare the parties needless briefing and promote judicial economy. The Acting

Director contends that 2008-1257 seeks review of the Board's original decision, which

was superseded by the Board's rehearing decision. The Acting Director argues that the

original Board decision is no longer a final agency action and cannot be appealed; thus,

2008-1257 should be dismissed. Sami contends that rehearing by the Board may not

have been within the scope of the limited remand and thus requests that the court not

dismiss 2008-1257.

The court determines that the better course is for the parties to address the

court's jurisdiction with respect to 2008-1257 in their briefs, if they wish. Because the

two appeals involve review of the Board's original decision and the Board's rehearing

decision, the court determines that a continuation of the stay is not appropriate and that

the appeals should be consolidated.

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

Sami's motion to continue the stay is denied.

The Acting Director's motion to dismiss is denied.

(3)	The appeals are consolidated. The revised official caption is reflected

above.

2008-1257, 2009-1317	2
(4)	Sami is directed to file a single brief incorporating arguments concerning

both appeals no later than August 21, 2009. The Acting Director is directed to file a

single brief incorporating arguments concerning both appeals within 40 days of the date

of service of Sami's brief. Sami is directed to file a single reply brief incorporating

arguments concerning both appeals within 14 days of the date of service of the Acting

Director's brief.

FOR THE COURT

JUN12 2009

Date

/s/ Jan Horbaly

Jan Horbaly

Clerk

U^tHE g car"

JUN 12 2009

JAN HOkbhu

CLERK

cc:	Richard J. Berman, Esq.

Raymond T. Chen, Esq.

s17

2008-1257, 2009-1317 3