Robert N. Hochman

The cases considered by the Supreme Court on the merits that Rob has handled include:

• Minerva Surgical, Inc. v. Hologic, Inc. (2019) (argued), substantially narrowing the patent law doctrine of assignor estoppel.
• Bucklew v. Precythe (2019) (argued), regarding standard for evaluating as-applied challenge to method of execution.
• Life Technologies Corporation v. Promega Corp (2017), concerning patent liability for foreign sales when only a component of a patented invention is sourced from the United States.
• Impression Products, Inc. v. Lexmark International, Inc. (2017), concerning patent exhaustion. 
• Chambers v. United States (2009) (argued), regarding the interpretation of the Armed Career Criminal Act.
• Rivera v. Illinois (2009), considering whether the erroneous seating of a juror over a defendant’s peremptory challenge automatically requires a new trial.
• Tellabs, Inc. v. Makor Issues & Rights (2007), regarding the interpretation of the pleading standard for scienter under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.
• Rita v. United States (2007), regarding the legal force of the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
• Exxon v. Allapattah Services, Inc. (2005), interpreting the federal supplemental jurisdiction statute.
• United States v. Fanfan (2005), regarding a 6th Amendment challenge to the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
• Norfolk Southern Ry. v. Kirby (2004), regarding liability limitation provisions in bills of lading for multimodal carriage of goods internationally.

Cases Rob has argued in federal and state appellate courts include:

• Pink Robinson v. State of Indiana, (Ind. S. Ct. 2024), concerning standards for judicial recusal in Indiana.
  
• Herbert Hardimon v. American River Transport Co., (7th Cir. 2024), concerning limits of proximate cause analysis in maritime cases.
  
• Terry Kass v. PayPal Inc., (7th Cir. 2023), concerning the enforceability of an arbitration contract. 
  
• Amazon Services, Inc. v. South Carolina Department of Revenue, (SC Ct. App. 2023), concerning application of state sales tax to internet marketplace facilitator of sales. 
  
• Epic Systems Corp. v. Tata Consultancy Svcs. Ltd., (7th Cir. 2023), concerning court review of punitive damages award.
  
• Minerva Surgical v. Hologic, (Fed. Cir. 2022), concerning the public use bar and doctrine of equivalents. 
  
• American Petroleum Tankers X, LLC v. American River Transport Co., LLC (5th Cir. 2022), concerning limitation of liability under admiralty law. 
  
• Rozo v. Principal Life Ins. Co., (8th Cir. 2022), concerning alleged breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA in connection with stable value fund offering. 
  
• La’Tonya Ford v. Jackson National Life Ins. Co., (10th Cir. 2022), concerning Title VII employment discrimination claims. 
  
• In re Boy Scouts of America, (3d Cir. 2022), concerning retention of debtor’s counsel in face of alleged ethical conflict with debtor’s insurer. 
  
• Hologic, Inc. v. Minerva Surgical, Inc, (Fed. Cir. 2022), concerning assignor estoppel.
  
• Hawkins v. Cintas Corp., (6th Cir. 2021), concerning arbitrability of ERISA claim.
• J.R. v. Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., (4th Cir. 2021), concerning data privacy in connection with federal government sponsored prescription drug discount program. 
• B.P. v. Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., (9th Cir. 2021), concerning consumer fraud class action. 
• United Insurance Co. of America v. Patronis, (Fla. S. Ct. 2021), concerning retroactivity of changes in unclaimed property statute. 
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ex rel. Rosenberg v. JPMorgan Chase & Co., et al., (Mass. S. Ct. 2021), concerning the public disclosure bar to the False Claims Act.
• Klein v. TD Ameritrade, (8th Cir. 2020), concerning certification of class for securities fraud claim.
• Hologic, Inc. v. Minerva Surgical, Inc, (Fed. Cir. 2020), concerning patent claim construction, validity, damages, and assignor estoppel.
• Kemper Corporate Services, Inc. v. Computer Sciences Corp. (5th Cir. 2019), concerning confirmation of arbitration award over challenge to arbitral power to decide damages issue.
• Clean Water Opportunities, Inc. v. The Willamette Valley Company (5th Cir. 2019), concerning validity of predatory pricing antitrust claim. 
• In re: Tribune Media Co. (3d Cir. 2018), concerning bankruptcy court jurisdiction over and merits of employment discrimination claim against debtor. 
• Zola v. TD Ameritrade, Inc., (8th Cir. 2018), concerning SLUSA preemption for putative class action asserting state law causes of action in connection with broker’s receipt of payments for customer order flow to market centers. 
• Enzo Biochem Inc. v. Applera Corp. (Fed. Cir. 2017), concerning claim construction and doctrine of equivalents. 
• American Chemicals & Equipment Inc. 401(K) Retirement Plan v. Principal Management Corp. (8th Cir. 2017), concerning standing to bring a claim for excessive fees against a mutual fund manager under the Investment Company Act. 
• Patrick Hannan v. Hartford Financial Services, (2d Cir 2017), concerning ERISA claim brought against service provider for alleged breach of fiduciary duty.
• Tate & Lyle Ingredients v. James Craig, (Ill. App. 4th Dist. 2017), concerning preliminary injunction for alleged trade secret misappropriation.
• Special Situations Fund III, et al. v. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA, Ltd., (2d Cir. 2016), concerning alleged securities fraud claim against auditors.
• Stonecrafters, Inc. v. Wholesale Life Insurance Brokerage, Inc., (Ill. App. 2d Dist. 2015), concerning the reasonableness of a settlement for purposes of determining whether an absent insurer may be required to pay the settlement amount.
• Pearson v. Confidential Client  (7th Cir. 2014), concerning approval of class action settlement.
• Solargenix Energy, LLC v. Acciona S.A., (Ill. App. 1st Dist. 2014), concerning personal jurisdiction.
• Grandalski v. Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (3d Cir. 2014), concerning denial of class certification for nationwide consumer fraud claim regarding medical billing.
• Watkins v. DineEquity, Inc., et al., (3d Cir. 2014), concerning interpretation of New Jersey’s Truth in Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act.
• E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. v. Medtronic Vascular, Inc., (Delaware Supreme Court 2013), concerning contract dispute regarding patent royalty payments. 
• Hartney Fuel Oil Co. v. Hamer, (Illinois Supreme Court 2013), concerning the situs of Illinois Retail Occupancy Tax.
• Hartney Fuel Oil Co. v. Hamer, (Ill. App. 3d Dist. 2012), concerning the situs of Illinois Retail Occupancy Tax.
• AlmondNet v. Microsoft Corp. (Fed. Cir. 2012), concerning claim construction issues in patent infringement case.
• Cohen v. Wachovia Mortgage (7th Cir. 2012), concerning state-law challenge to manner of selection and cost of lender placed insurance by a federal savings bank.
• Ruppert v. Principal Life Insurance Co. (8th Cir. 2012), concerning propriety of class action on behalf of ERISA plans against retirement plan service provider.
• BCS Services, Inc. et al. v. Heartwood 88, LLC et al. (7th Cir. 2011), concerning causation and damages under RICO.
• Freeman v. MML Bay State Life Ins. Co. (3d Cir. 2011), concerning scope of release in class action settlement agreement.
• Competitive Edge, Inc. v. Staples, Inc. (Fed. Cir. 2011), concerning design patent infringement.
• Allied Medical, P.A. et al. v. American International Insurance Co. et al. (3d Cir. 2009), concerning viability of class action lawsuit challenging methods for calculating reasonable and customary charges for insurance reimbursement.
• Casey v. FDIC (8th Cir. 2009), concerning federal preemption of state law claims challenging the charging of document preparation fees by federal savings banks.
• Bridgewater Telephone Co. v. City of Monticello (Minn. Ct. App. 2009), concerning interpretation of Minnesota public bond statute.
• Springman v. AIG Marketing, Inc. (7th Cir. 2008), concerning removal of putative class action to federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act.
• Murray v. HSBC Auto (7th Cir. 2008), concerning interpretation of the phrase “firm offer of credit” under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
• Aon Risk Services of Arkansas v. Meadors (Ark. Ct. App. 2007), concerning compensation contract interpretation.
• Killingsworth v. HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A. (7th Cir. 2006), concerning private right of action under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
• Republique du Congo v. FG Hemisphere Associates (5th Cir. 2006), concerning the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.