United States District Court – Central District of California
The justice system in the United States is divided into federal and state courts. Whether a legal action should be filed at the federal or state level depends on the specific circumstances of the claim, including the nature of the claim, the laws governing the action, the identity and location of the parties, and more.
Despite being governed by the same set of overarching Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Federal Rules of Evidence, each federal court is unique. In fact, each individual courtroom can be substantially different based on a particular judge’s preferences and procedures. If your case should be filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, you should be represented by a law firm that regularly practices in that court.
At Mandour & Associates, members of our legal team are licensed to practice in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. We have sufficient experience with the judges in this district to ensure the best outcome possible for each case. If you would like to discuss any concerns regarding a possible intellectual property dispute, please do not delay in contacting our office today.
Intellectual Property Cases in Federal Court
Federal courts have jurisdiction to handle cases that involve federal issues. Because of federal laws regulating trademarks, patents and copyrights, the federal court system has subject matter jurisdiction over cases involving such infringements. While there are federal laws regarding trademarks, trademark issues can also be heard by state courts, such as when a trademark is not officially registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. However, trademark and trade secrets cases are also often filed in federal court.
Because so many intellectual property disputes are resolved in the federal courts, it is critical for a law firm that handles intellectual property litigation to have attorneys who are licensed in the necessary federal court and knowledgeable about the process.
Choosing the Right Federal District Court
The federal district courts are the lowest level of courts in the federal justice system. These courts are where claims originate. Claims only proceed to higher courts upon appeal. The federal courts are divided first into twelve circuits based on region. For example, California is in the Ninth Circuit, which also includes Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Arizona.
Each appellate circuit is then divided into smaller regional districts, each of which has its own district court. California has four distinct districts that cover the central, eastern, northern, and southern parts of the state. The Central District of California then includes three different divisions that cover seven different counties, as follows:
- Eastern Division – San Bernardino County and Riverside County
- Western Division – Los Angeles County, San Luis Obispo County, Ventura County, and Santa Barbara County
- Southern Division – Orange County
As you can see, there are several different options for filing a federal claim and choosing the right venue for your federal intellectual property matter is no easy process. If a court finds that a chosen venue is improper, it may grant a defendant’s motion to dismiss based on venue, which can delay the legal process and your opportunity to obtain relief. Therefore, your attorney should know how to select the appropriate venue within the Central District of California.
The Central District of California
There are numerous courtrooms in the five different courthouses of the Central District of California, overseen by numerous district judges. The district has particular procedures regarding the following:
- Clerk services, including court reporting, interpreters, use of technology in the courtroom, records, and more.
- Electronic filing and case management
- Judges’ procedures, schedules, and judicial conduct and complaints
- Setting calendars
- Filing procedures, forms, and local rules
Furthermore, each judge will have specific preferences regarding how certain tasks or communications are accomplished. Therefore, each attorney should be familiar with the specific way a judge prefers cases to proceed.
Contact an Experienced Intellectual Property Attorney Today
The law office of Mandour & Associates, APC handles all issues related to intellectual property law throughout southern California. We have offices located in Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego and our team has extensive experience in California federal district courts. Our firm focuses only on intellectual property law so that we can best represent our clients and work to protect their rights and interests. If you have any questions or would like to retain us, please contact us via our contact form.
