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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Alexandria Division
MATTHEW H. SWYERS,
Plaintiff,
V.
UNITED STATES PATENT AND
TRADEMARK OFFICE, et al..
Defendants.
Civil No. l:16-cv-15
Hon. Liam O'Grady
Memorandum Opinion
Matthew Swyers filed this action to enjoin the United States Patent and Trademark Office
("PTO") from pursuing disciplinary proceedings against him stemming from the Office of
Enrollment and Discipline's ("OED") purportedly imconstitutional investigation into his patent
practice. In addition to injunctive relief, Swyers seeks damages from three individual PTO
employees pursuant toBivens} During thependency of thecomplaint, thePTO initiated a
formal disciplinary proceeding against Swyers that is now pending before an administrative law
judge.
The PTO moves to dismiss the complaint on the groimd that the statutory scheme put in
place by Congress precludes judicial review of Swyers' claims at this stage or, alternatively, for
failure to state a claim. (Dkt. No. 14). The individual defendants have separately moved to
dismiss for failure to state a Bivens cause of action or, alternatively, on the basis of qualified
immunity. (Dkt. No. 17). The motions are fully briefed, and the Court heard argument on May
* See Bivens v. Six Unknown NamedAgents ofFed. Bureau ofNarcotics, 403 U.S. 388(1971).
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