Turtle Talk

Here it is — Harjo Petition for Writ of Certiorari

The question presented:

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia reversed the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board’s order scheduling cancellation of the disputed marks and granted summary judgment to Pro-Football, Inc., finding that the doctrine of laches precluded consideration of Petitioners’ cancellation petition brought pursuant to Section 14(3) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1064(3). On appeal, a panel of the District of Columbia Circuit agreed and, after a remand, ultimately affirmed the District Court’s decision in full. The District of Columbia Circuit’s decision and the Federal Circuit’s decision in Bridgestone/Firestone Research, Inc. v. Auto. Club De L’Ouest De La France, 245 F.3d 1359, 1360-61 (Fed. Cir. 2001), are in conflict with the holding of the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Marshak v. Treadwell, 240 F.3d 184 (3d Cir. 2001) (Alito, J.), that petitions made pursuant to Section 14(3) may be filed “at any time,” rendering defenses such as laches and statutes of limitation inapplicable.

A single question is presented for review:

1. Whether the doctrine of laches is applicable to a cancellation petition filed pursuant to Section 1064(3) of the Lanham Act despite the plain meaning of the statutory language stating that such a petition may be filed “at any time.”