United States: Institution Mandamus Review Limited To Colorable Constitution Claims

In Mylan Labs Ltd. v. Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., the Federal Circuit reaffirmed it lacked jurisdiction over appeals from the PTAB denying IPR institution, noted that it had jurisdiction over requests for mandamus, but that mandamus was an extraordinary relief to which Mylan was not entitled.  No. 2021-1071, 2021 WL 936345 (Fed. Cir. March 12, 2021).

Mylan appealed the denial of an IPR institution to the Federal Circuit both directly and through a writ of mandamus.  The Federal Circuit held that it lacked jurisdiction over the direct appeal, but that it had jurisdiction over the writ of mandamus.  The Court reasoned that to "protect [the Court's] future jurisdiction, [the Court] ha[s] jurisdiction to review any petition for a writ of mandamus denying intuition of an IPR."  Mylan Labs, at 9.

Before the Court will issue a writ of mandamus, however, the "petitioner must: (1) show that it has a clear and indisputable legal right; (2) show it does not have any other adequate method of obtaining relief; and (3) convince the court that the writ is appropriate under the circumstances."  Mylan Labs, at 11.  Given that 35 U.S.C.§ 314(a) gives the Director the discretion to review, "combined with [the] prohibition on appeal of such decisions," the Court "conclude[d] that there is no reviewability of the Director's exercise of his discretion to deny institution except for colorable constitutional claims."  Id. at 12 (emphasis added).

The Court found that "Mylan lack[ed] a clear and indisputable right to review of the Patent Office's determination to apply the Fintiv  factors," stating "it is difficult to imagine a mandamus petition that challenges a denial of institution and identifies a clear and indisputable right to relief."  Id. at 13.

The Court also found that Mylan failed to sate a colorable claim for constitutional relief because Mylan failed to identify a deprivation of life, liberty or property, noting that Mylan was free to litigate the patent claims' validity in its own district court case.  Id.

Takeaway

While it is possible to use a writ of mandamus for the Federal Circuit to review the institution denial of an IPR, it is unlikely that the Federal Circuit would grant such a writ, which is reserved for "exceptional circumstances amounting to a judicial usurpation of power, or a clear abuse of discretion."  Mylan Labs  at 11.

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