Ramey Plots Multi-Pronged Appeals Ahead of Sanctions Hearing

Prolific patent attorney Bill Ramey and his two colleagues urged the Federal Circuit to pause enforcement of a California judge’s sanctions order days before their required appearance in a San Francisco court.

Ramey filed on April 18 a request to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to stay the sanctions order and exempt them from attending court on April 23. He then informed the district court of plans to petition the US Supreme Court for an emergency stay in a Monday filing.

Ramey, on behalf of himself and colleagues Jeff Kubiak and Susan Kalra, told the Federal Circuit that a California judge’s recent rejection of his pro hac vice petition was evidence of harm caused by the March sanctions order. They had previously argued to Magistrate Judge Peter Kang of the US District Court for the Northern District of California that the penalty could threaten their careers.

Kang sanctioned the three attorneys in March after finding the attorneys handled Koji’s patent infringement case against Renesas Electronics America Inc. in bad faith while violating conduct rules. Kang said Texas attorneys Ramey and Kubiak, who didn’t have permission to practice in his court, relied on California-based Kalra to submit their court filings.

The attorneys are required to self-report the sanctions to bar associations and disciplinary committees, pay a combined $64,000 in fines, and complete attorney continuing legal education courses.

The attorneys filed a series of motions opposing the sanctions and requesting an emergency hearing on the matter. They argued in the district court motions and in their April appeal to the Federal Circuit that Kang didn’t have the authority to issue sanctions against them and the order has the potential of ending their careers.

Renesas urged the Federal Circuit last week to dismiss the appeal, arguing the trio and their client are having two courts simultaneously review the motions. The electronics company said it would be premature for the appellate court to review the dispute because the orders aren’t final.

Magistrate Judge Lisa Cisneros, also in the Northern District of California, denied with prejudice on April 16 Ramey’s request to appear in his client Cooperative Entertainment Inc. against Alibaba Cloud US LLC. The judge said Ramey falsely said under oath he never received pro hac vice admission in the court in the past 12 months, referencing Kang’s research into Ramey’s litigation practices in the Golden State.

“Ramey’s misrepresentation here is particularly egregious because Ramey has recently been sanctioned by another judge in this district for unauthorized practice of law and misconduct related to pro hac vice applications,” Cisneros said.

Cisneros ordered Ramey to explain why he shouldn’t be ordered to pay a $1,000 monetary sanction, be referred to the Northern District’s Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility for further punishment, and self-report the order to bar associations and disciplinary committees.

Ramey didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Cisnero’s order or his plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Counsel for Renesas didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ramey is representing himself, Kubiak, Kalra,and Koji in the appeal. Maschoff Brennan Gilmore Israelsen & Mauriel LLP is representing Renesas.

The case is Koji IP LLC v. Renesas Electronics America Inc., Fed. Cir., No. 25-01639, motion filed 4/18/25.