Sacchetti v. United States , 129 Fed. Cl. 307 ( 2016 )


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    No. 15-1399C
    Filed: November 16, 2016                 FILED
    * * * * * * * + * l. * * + * * *,1 :F*       *                          Nov   |   6   2016
    *                         U.S. COURT OF
    MARK JOSEPH SACCHETTI and                                             FEDERAL CLAIMS
    JOHN STEPHEN SACCHETTI
    Plaintiffs.
    Pro Se; Statute of Limitations;
    Patent Infringement; Gopyright;
    UNITED STATES,
    Substitution of Pafi After Death.
    Defendant,
    CYRACOM INTERNATIONAL, LLC,
    Thi rd-Party Defendant.
    * * *,t   * * * * * * *:!    * *:t   * x **
    John Stephen Sacchetti, pro se, Lady Lake, Florida.
    Mark Joseph Sacchetti, pro se, Los Angeles, California.
    William Joss Nichols, Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division,
    Department of Justice, Washington D.C., for defendant. With him was John J. Fargo,
    Director, Intellectual Property Staff, Commercial Litigation Branch, and Benjamin C.
    Mizer, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, Department of Justice,
    Washington, D.C.
    Randall Steven Papetti, Lewis and Roca, LLP, Phoenix, Arizona, for third-party
    defendant CyraCom International, LLC.
    OPINION
    HORN. J.
    FINDINGS OF FACT
    Pro se plaintiffs John S. Sacchetti and Mark J. Sacchetti filed a complaint in this
    court in the above-captioned case on November 19,201s. Plaintiffs begin their complaint
    by alleging that they are the owners of two patents, design patent number 382,264 (the
    '264 Patent) and utility patent number 5,604,798 (the'798 Patent), as well as a trademark
    for the phrase "The You Talk rwo Phone," stating that they are the "full and rightful owners
    and creators of a unique original invention we named and subsequen y had trademarked
    as 'THE YOU TALK TWO PHONE'@, U.S. PATENT No. DES-382, 264, U.S. UTtLtry
    rs.s ?01,{ 1P00 0008 1013 1605
    701,9 l,e0B 0000 1093 101,e
    r''   701,{ Ie00 0000 5093 1?51
    PATENT No. 5,604,798, U.S. TRADEMARK -SN 741450292*"*.' 1 Plaintiffs then set forth
    what they allege is a "list of grievances and formal proofs . . . against THE FEDERAL
    GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and its various agencies,
    spanning all three branches, both on and off domestic soil, in addition to all legally bound
    private or publicly owned corporate entities, subcontractors, or goods and services
    suppliers." Plaintiffs allege that certain "agendas, programs, and . . . ancillary commerce
    and operations" of these parties "compromis[ed] a willful and global infringement of
    intellectual property's, owned and legally maintained, by Sacchetti, Sacchetti et, al.
    !" In particular, plaintiffs allege that the "global manufacturing" of "DUAL-HANDSET
    TELEPHONES," which "comprise illegal and inferior'MARKET COPIES' OF 'The You
    Talk Two Phone," constituted an "unethical and illegal use of Private Intellectual
    Property Rights" by "The United Stafes Federal Governmenf, and awarded
    subcontractors." Plaintiffs do not include details as to the dates or nature of the alleged
    infringements of their intellectual property in their complaint, but instead appear to allege
    that such details are included in letters sent to the President of the United States and the
    United states commissioner of Patents, which they attached to their complaint, stating in
    their comolaint:
    [W'lith reference to the three page plea written to the president Of the
    UNITED STATES, and the formal response to that package being answered
    in writing along with a Confermation [sic] reference number from THE
    WHITE HOUSE at the end of the return letter corespondance by THE
    COMMISIONER OF PATENTS,-WE PRAY THE U,S.FEDERAL COURT
    OF CLAIMS HEARS OUR CASE, AND FURTHERMORE, ALLOWS US TO
    PRESENT OUR PROOFS OF PERSONAL AND PUBLIC RECORD IN
    ORDER TO ACHIEVE A JUST END.
    Plaintiffs conclude their complaint by alleging, without elaboration, that they are entiled
    to "$200'000'000" in damages "FoR THE usE oF pRtvATE pRopERTy AND wtrH
    RESPECT TO USC 1498a "
    Attached to plaintiffs' complaint are 195 pages comprising, at least, 130 separate
    documents. Among these documents are a letter to United states president Barack
    Obama and a letter from the Office of the Commissioner for Patents at the United States
    Patent and Trademark Office which appear to be the documents plaintiffs reference in
    their complaint. The letter to President obama, dated February 23,2013 and signed by
    both plaintiffs, begins:
    usual sinqle handset that one misht be accustomed to Eeeinq:             Aft;
    1 All abbreviations, capitalization and emphasis, as well as any sentence structure,
    grammatical, and spelling choices, are as they appear in plaintiffs'filings.
    completing the first successful prototype, we were granted the following
    U.S. oatents:
    rDUAL TELEPHONE BASE"I U.S.PAT. 0-382264
    rTHE YOU TALK TWO PHONE'l U.S. TRADEMARK FOR THE                     TTTLE
    TTELEPHONE SYSTEM W|TH AUTOMATTC VOLUME CONTROLI
    u.s.PAT. 5,604,798
    [{uTrLrw- PATENT-(SCHEMATIC DTAGRAM) (THEORY OF
    OPERATION)l...the gufsl
    Plaintiffs then state that their letter "constitutes a citizen's appeal, in order to address
    and correct an enormous, 'multi-agency oversight', on behalf of our Federal
    Government." The February 23,2013letter to President Obama continues:
    Our plea concerns the infringement of intellectual properties, taken and
    presently in use by the Federal Government and it's awarded
    subcontractors, to aid in the fulfillment of Presidential Mandate #13166,
    which states that any and all individuals must be provided an
    interpreter, or, what is referred to as a ,,remote, over the telephone
    interpreter"', if said individual has a communications barrier due to a
    lack of his or her proficiency in spoken English, This extension of The
    American Disabilities Act, seeks equality and fair access to all ELp
    (English-Language Proficiency) deficient individuals across the entire
    range of state and federal governmental services available.
    Since these legally mandated services require the use of a"
    DUAL HANDSET TELEPHONE" at the site of the language ,,barrier";
    and, since our technical utility patent, [TELEPHONE SYSTEM WITH
    AUTOMATTC VOLUME CONTROLI U.S. PATENT # 5,604,798-
    (encompasses our unique invention called .,THE yOU TALK TWO
    PHONE"@ (U.S. REGISTERED TRADEMARK-(encompasses our
    original design patent entifled IDUAL TELEPHONE BASEI; U.S. Design
    Patent [D-3822641, first granted back in 1993, then suddentv ahd
    mysteiously MIA (missing in action), finally resurtacing with differe;t fiting
    data, and no valid accountable filing receipts or explanation from oir
    prosecuting patent aftomey!
    prosecutino patent attornevs; (see 9 page essay/analysis; entitled--
    rTHE YOU TALK TWO PHONE'@D, are dwarfed in comparison to the
    enormous commerce carried out by these companies, (AT&T)
    ?
    (Language-Line LLC), and (Cyra-com intl./co./Noiance lnc.l, to whom
    the United States Federal Government is in direct and legal partnership
    with, as well as numerous other third-party start-ups, which have exploded
    onto the scene since 1995 to the present, 2013, thereby comprising a
    willfully ignored global and domestic infringement on intellectual
    property!
    Beinq that all the above mentioned corporate entities. as well as
    the Federal l.P. Court circuit are not conducive to the independent
    inventor / patent holder, all infrinqinq parties to this dav. continue to
    remain untraceable, unaccountable, and by our definition of justice or
    fair-play, TOTALLY Unacceptabte!l!!!t! M !
    The letter ends with the following "Very Humble, Yet Very Warranted Requests":
    1). A non-public, executive demand of fair and just restitution to all
    offending or infringing parties, who are proven to have engaged in willful
    and gainful commerce on top of exclusive or legal powers to rightfully
    control or claim moneys within the laws of rightful term of the private
    ownership of intellectual propeny . . . .
    2). An Extension and Reinstitution of our patent portfolio . . . .
    3). The reprinting of our two granted U.S. patents, as to reflect the true
    and factual information, as these patents were both fully maintained,
    and fully paid for in good faith!
    The letter from the Office of the Commissioner of Patents to plaintiffs is dated July
    16, 2013. The letter begins by stating that ptaintiffs' February 23,2013lefter to president
    obama had been referred to the United states patent and rrademark office (uspro)
    fo_r a response and noting that, in their letter, plaintiffs "request (1) ,restitution to
    all
    ott91!ino or infringing parties,'(2)'an extension and reinstitution of [your] patent portfolio,'
    and (3) 'the reprinting of [your] two granted U.s. patents, as to reflect the true and factual
    information."' (alteration in original). With regard to plaintiffs, first request, the letter states:
    "the USPTO has no jurisdiction over questions of infringement and tne enforcement
    of
    patents. consequently, the USPTO does not have the authority to enforce your demands
    against the parties that you allege have infringed your pateni." with regaid to plaintiffs,
    second request, the letter states: "the uspro has no authority to length-en the ierm of a
    patent othe-r than 35 usc S 1 s6. . . . The reasons in your letter for requesting
    an extensron
    of your utility patent's term do not appear to fit the criteria ouilined in 35-usc 156."
    S
    Regarding plaintiffs' third request, the letter states:
    A filing receipt enclosed with your letter showed a different filing date than
    that of your patents. However, the encrosed firing receipt is forlpplication
    number 071888,214, and our database indicates that U.S. patent No.
    5,604,798 issued from application number 081229,206, which is a different
    application that was filed on April 18, 1994. U.S. Design Patent D382,264
    issued from application number 291046,496 filed on November 16, 1995.
    Among the many other documents included with plaintiffs' complaint are three
    documents related to the intellectual properties apparently at issue in the plaintiffs'
    complaint and letter to President Obama: the '264 Patent, the '798 Patent, and a
    trademark for "The You Talk Two Phone." Plaintiffs include a page from the '264 Patent,
    which states that the patent was for a "DUAL TELEPHONE BASE," was filed November
    16, 1996, and was issued August 12, 1997. The only claim listed in the '264 patent is for
    an "ornamental design for a dual telephone base, as shown and described" in a
    description included with the patent. The '264 Patent lists its inventor as Mark J. Sacchetti.
    Plaintiffs also include a page from the'798 Patent, which states that the patent
    was for a "TELEPHoNE sYsrEM wtrH AUToMATtc voLUME coNTRoL," was fited
    April 18, 1994, and was issued February 18, 1997. The abstract contained in the'79g
    Patent states: "A You Talk rwo Phone is provided that is a true two handset telepnone
    device. . . . The You Talk rwo Phone contains two handsets and circuitry that
    automatically adjusts internal amplifier gain to compensate for the extra handset even
    when not in use." The'798 Patent lists its inventors as John s. and Mark J. Sacchetti.
    The only document plaintiffs include related to their alleged trademark is a Notice
    of Abandonment from the United states patent and rrademark office, dated Decemoer
    5, 1997. The Notice lists the trademark at issue as "THE you rALK TWo pHoNE" and
    the applicant as Mark J. Sacchetti. The notice then states:
    THE ABOVE IDENTIFIED TRADEMARK                        APPLICATION WAS
    ABANDONED ON O9/18/1997 FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON:
    APPLICANT HAS FAILED TO FILE A STATEMENT OF USE WITHIN THE
    STATUTORY PER|oD. (TMDEMARK RULE 2.65(c)).
    Plaintiffs also attach to their complaint several documents related to the three
    companies mentioned in their letter to president obama: cyracom International, LLC;
    Language Line, LLC; and AT&T, Inc. with regard to cyracom, plaintiffs provide an
    undated document that appears to be a press release or advertisement from cvracom
    stating: "ln 1995 cyracoms_breakthrough patented dual-handset phone tecirnorogy
    revolutionized the delivery of Over-the-Phone interpretation." Plaintiffs also include what
    appears to be press release from cyracom, dated September 26,20e7, stating that
    "cyracom introduced its first patented dual-handset phone in 1995," which, the document
    states, was "now known as clearlink(TM)," and that cyracom had now invented ,,the
    industry's first dual-handset cordless phone, clearlink[M) cordless.,' plaintiffs also state
    In a separate motion for assignment of pro bono counsel, discussed below, that, in ,,the
    year 2008,"
    John Sacchetti, now permanently disabled and receiving social security
    disability insurance, walks into St, Vincent Catholic Hospital ilL-9:1A19919.s
    Ca.foraMedicarerequiredcolonoscopy,,and'behold'THE'CYRACOM-
    B LIJE,. D IJ AL.H A N D S ET.,S U B S C RI B E RLI N E " STYLE.''
    ietepnone.rwo..oF..THEM..tN                A    LARGE METRaPoLTAN          [sic]
    HOSPITAL FACILITY!!
    The document states that John Sacchetti "fell over in shock" upon seeing the device'
    rin"rrv, praintitrs provide a letter, dated February 24,2010, from Mark and John Sacchetti
    '264 and '798 Patents and
    to thsC'EO of CyraCom, listing the full patent numbers for the
    your
    stating, presumably in reference to these patents: "lt has come to our attention that
    is utilizing equipment and has been conducting and      promoting commerce   with
    "ompiny
    said equipment for quite sometime now."
    with regards to Language Line, plaintiffs attach to their complaintwhat appears to
    be a screensh-ot from Language Line's website, dated october 26, 2009, announcing a
    "new telephone with dual handsets for a clear, three-way interpreter conversation." The
    announcement refers to the device as the "Language Line{D Phone "
    Regarding AT&T, plaintiffs provide a copy of a letter, dated May 3, 1994, from Mark
    Sacchetti to RiAf, in which Mark Sacchetti proposed to grant AT&T "exclusive
    manufacturing rights" to an undisclosed invention of Mark and John Sacchetti that they
    believed wou-to re "a product comparable to the changing of LP's to the compact disc."
    Plaintiffs also provide a June 28, 1994 letter from Mark Sacchetti to AT&T's Public
    suggestions Analysis office stating that the letter was "introduc[ing]" AT&T to the
    Sa6ifretti brothers; invention, "'The You Talk Two Phone'the world's very first, low-cost,
    high quality [single-line, dual handset, self-powered] consumer telephone unit." (brackets
    in-original) The letter included descriptions of the phone's features, a picture of the
    device, and an offer to make AT&T the plaintiffs' "exclusive business partner in the
    manufacture and marketing" of the device. Plaintiffs also include AT&T's August 10' 1994
    response letter, which stated that the plaintiffs' "submittal does not contain anything novel
    which would be of value to AT&T." The lefter elaborated: "[wie are familiar with the type
    of telephone which you have described. However, the results of our most recent market
    research studies do not indicate a sufficient level of interest in such an offering." An
    additional letter from Mark Sacchetti to AT&T, dated October 12, 1994' is attached to
    plaintiffs' complaint, but there is no indication of a further reply from AT&T among the
    documents attached to the complaint. In addition, without explanation, plaintiffs also
    provide what appears to be an article from the New York Times, dated March 25, 1999,
    stating that AT&T had agreed to sell "AT&T Language Line," "its over-the-phone language
    interpietation service," and that, after the sale, "Language Line will be a prefened supplier
    of interpretation services for AT&T."
    Defendant filed an answer to plaintiffs' complaint in which it admitted that USPTO
    records indicate that plaintiffs were the inventors of the '264 and '798 Patents and that
    Mark Sacchetti was listed as the "owner of the now-abandoned application for regishation
    o
    of the trademark 'The You Talk Two Phone," while denying that "The You Talk Two
    Phone" is currently a USPTO-registered trademark. Defendant also denied plaintiffs'
    allegation that the federal government has engaged in illegal use of plaintiffs' intellectual
    property rights and asserted a defense to plaintiffs' complaint based on lack of subject
    matter jurisdiction in this court. Defendant then moved the court to provide notice to third
    parties CyraCom International, LLC, Language Line, LLC, and Legal Interpreting Services
    (LlS). According to the government, "CyraCom, Language Line, and LIS may be obligated
    to indemnify the government for any damages awarded to Plaintiffs. These companies
    have each contracted with the General Services Administration ('GSA') to provide
    interpretation services." Also, according to the government, the solicitation pursuant to
    which these third parties contracted with the government contains a patent indemnity
    clause, and, "[i]n light of Plaintiffs' allegations and the patent indemnity clause . . . the
    above-identified companies may have an interest in this action within the meaning of
    RCFC 14(bX1)."
    Third-party defendant CyraCom International, LLC filed a motion to dismiss
    plaintiffs' complaint, followed by an amended motion to dismiss, seeking to dismiss
    plaintiffs' complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to RCFC 12(hX3)
    (2016), or alternatively, for failure to state a claim pursuant to RCFC 12(bX6) (2016).
    Focusing on plaintiffs' allegation in their February 23, 2013letter to President Obama that
    the alleged infringement has been taking place "since 1995," as well as the documents
    attached to plaintiffs' complaint showing that CyraCom began offering dual-handset
    technology in 1995, CyraCom argues that that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear plaintiffs'
    patent infringement claims because the alleged infringement took place more than six
    years prior to filing of the complaint and, therefore, "well over" the six year statute of
    limitations prescribed by 28 U.S.C. S 2501 (2012). With regard to plaintiffs' trademark
    infringement claim, CyraCom argues that they should be dismissed because the United
    States Court of Federal Claims lacks jurisdiction to hear claims for trademark
    infringement. In the alternative, cyracom argues plaintiffs' complaint should be dismissed
    because "Plaintiffs have failed to plead even the basic elements of patent and trademark
    infringement. "
    The government also filed a motion to dismiss plaintiffs' complaint for lack of
    subject-matter jurisdiction pursuant to RCFC 12(hX3), or, alternatively, for judgment on
    the pleadings pursuant to RcFc 12(h)(2). In its motion, the government states that it joins
    the arguments stated in cyracom's motion to dismiss. According to the government,
    plaintiffs' patent infringement claims are barred by the statute of limitations prescribed by
    28 U.S.C. S 2501, or, in the alternative, plaintiffs have failed to state a claim for patent
    infringement. The government also indicates that the court lacks jurisdiction over plaintiffs'
    trademark infringement claim.
    In response to the government's motion to dismiss, plaintiffs filed a motion for the
    assignment of a pro bono counsel. Although the court participates in a pro bono counsel
    referral program for the appropriate cases filed in this court, the court issued an oroer
    informing the plaintiffs that the court considered such a referral as premature prior to a
    decision on the outstanding jurisdictional motions to dismiss, which raised serious statute
    of limitations issues. Moreover, in civil cases, the court does not have an obligation to
    appoint counsel to plaintiffs. See Lassiter v. Dep't of Soc. Servs. of Durham Cntv. N.C.,
    
    452 U.S. 18
    ,26-27 (1981) ("[A]n indigent litigant has a rightto appointed counsel only
    when, if he loses, he may be deprived of his physical liberty."); see also Pitts v. Shinseki,
    
    700 F.3d 1279
    , 1283 (Fed. Cir. 2012), cerl. denied, 
    133 S. Ct. 2856
     (2013); Heuss v.
    United States,75 Fed. C|.636 (2007) (quoting Lariscevv. United States. 861 F.2d1267,
    1270-71 (Fed. Cir. 1988), and noting that the United States Supreme Court has not
    recognized a right under the Constitution to appointed counsel in civil cases); Martin v.
    United States, 
    31 Fed. Cl. 756
    , 757 (1994\ ("The appointment of counsel in a civil case is
    not a right, but a privilege justified only by exceptional circumstances.").
    Also after the filing of the government and CyraOom's motions to dismiss, the
    government and the plaintiffs filed a joint motion to defer their joint preliminary status
    report, in which they stated that, "[i]n oraround May 2016, Plaintiff Mark Joseph Sacchetti,
    John Sacchetti's brother, passed away." The court ordered plaintiffs to "file a notice with
    the court indicating if plaintiffs wish to have Mark Joseph Sacchetti dismissed as a plaintiff
    from this case or an executor or executrix appointed in his place to continue in the
    litigation." In response to the court's order, on September 12,2016, plaintiffs filed what
    they titled a "MOTION TO RETAIN THE ESTATE OF MARK JOSEPH SACCHETTI lN
    LITIGATION OF CASE No. 15-1399C. CURRENTLY lN PROGRESS," which stated:
    Pursuant to rule 25 (b), (c), of the rules of the U.S.C.F.C., PLAINTIFF JOHN
    STEPHEN SACCHETTI, submits to this court a formal request to retain the
    estate of deceased brother MARK JOSEPH SACCHETTI to the current
    case in progress and do hereby submit along with this formal request, an
    original death certificate to the clerk of this court as required.
    A certificate of death issued by the county of Los Angeles, California for Mark Joseph
    Sacchetti, dated April 19, 20'16, was attached to the motion. The government and third-
    pafi defendant CyraCom International, LLC filed responses opposing plaintiffs motion
    on the ground that plaintiffs had failed to identify any party to be substituted for Mark
    Sacchetti.
    Rather than respond to these arguments, on October 3, 2016, plaintiffs filed a
    second "MOTION TO RETAIN THE ESTATE OF MARK JOSEPH SACCHETTI," which,
    after beginning with the same paragraph as contained in the first motion, stated:
    Successor to the deceased party of plaintiff Mark Joseph Sacchetti will be
    Mr. Dan Logan     .      as sole heir to all interests and worldly assets as
    bequeathed to Mr. Dan Logan, and by explicit instruction of "The Last Will
    And Testamenf" of the late Mark Joseph Sacchetti, (the living will), vests full
    and willful joinder, placing his commitment and hence the full scope of all
    assets and liabilities pertaining specifically to that estate and its relevant
    legal responsibilities. [sic] in continuing litigation, and as such will replace,
    and restore, the original   50Yo   I   50% partnership arrangement of plaintiffs
    oarties.
    The motion also states that Mr. Logan has been "given the task and title of 'Executof of
    the estate" in Mark Sacchetti's will. Both the government and CyraOom oppose plaintiffs'
    new motion on the grounds that the motion fails to show Mr. Logan is a "proper party"
    who may be substituted for the deceased under Rules of the Court of Federal Claims
    (RcFc) Rule 25(a) (2016)
    DtscusstoN
    The court turns first to plaintiffs' 'MOTIONISI TO RETAIN THE ESTATE OF
    MARK JOSEPH SACCHETTI.' RCFC Rule 25(a) (2016) states: "lf a party dies and the
    claim is not extinguished, the court may order substitution of the proper party. A motion
    for substitution may be made by any party or by the decedent's successor or
    representative." Forthe purpose of Rule 25(a), "[w]hether a person is a proper party is . . .
    determined according to state law," and, therefore, "[t]he party seeking substitution must
    show that the person to be substituted is a proper representative or successor under state
    law." 6 James William Moore, Moore's Federal Practice $ 25.12 (3d ed. 2016) (discussing
    Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 25(a), which is identical to RCFC 25(a)). Based on
    the documents provided to the court, the relevant state law for the purposes of plaintiffs'
    motion to retain is that of California. The address given in plaintiffls second motion for Mr.
    Logan indicates that he lives in California, and the purported will of Mark Sacchetti and
    the address for Mark Sacchetti listed in filings in this court indicate that he resided in
    California prior to his death. Plaintiffs appear to allege that Mr. Logan is both the
    representative of Mark Sacchetti's estate and his successor, referring to Mr. Logan in the
    second "MOTION TO RETAIN" as the executor of Mark Sacchetti's estate and his sole
    heir. Under California law, a person, regardless of whetherthey are named as an executor
    in a decedent's will, has no power to administer an estate until the California superior
    court has appointed the person a personal representative of the estate and "the person
    appointed is issued letters." See Cal. Prob. Code SS 8400(a), (b) (West 2016); see also
    
    id.
     S 8405 (specifying the form and contents of appointment letters). Because, in this case,
    no such letter of appointment, or any other evidence that Mr. Logan has been appointed
    the personal representative of Mark Sacchetti's estate by a California court, has been
    provided to this court, at this point, this court cannot find that Mr. Logan is a proper
    representative of Mark Sacchetti's estate under California law. See Acebal v. United
    States, 
    60 Fed. Cl. 551
    , 557 (2004) (denying RCFC 25(a) motion for widow who was
    listed as executor in deceased plaintiff's will because widow failed to obtain a letter of
    administration from state probate court). Similarly, the court cannot find that Mr. Logan is
    a proper successor to Mark Sacchetti because plaintiffs have failed to provide any
    evidence that Mark Sacchetti's estate has been fully distributed and, hence, that Mr.
    Logan is, in fact, legally entitled to the intellectual properties at issue. See Grass Valley
    Terrace v. United States, 
    69 Fed. Cl. 506
    , 51 1 (2006) ("Requiring thefull distribution of
    an estate before a distributee may act as a substitute ensures that the distribution is final
    and not subject to any alterations. In addition, it ensures that the substituted pafi is in
    I
    fact legally entitled to the interests at issue."). Given that no showing that Mr. Logan is a
    proper party under RCFC 25(a) has been presented to the court, the "MOTIONIS] TO
    RETAIN THE ESTATE OF MARK JOSEPH SACCHETTI'must be denied.
    Turning next to the government and CyraCom's motions to dismiss, the court
    recognizes that plaintiffs are proceeding pro se, without the assistance of counsel. When
    determining whether a complaint filed by a pro se plaintiff is sufficient to invoke review by
    a court, pro se plaintiffs are entitled to liberal construction of their pleadings. See Haines
    v. Kerner, 
    404 U.S. 519
    ,520-21 (requiring that allegations contained in a pro se complaint
    be held to "less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers"), reh'q
    denied, 
    405 U.S. 948
     (1972); see also Erickson v. Pardus, 
    551 U.S. 89
    , 9a (2007);
    Huohes v. Rowe,
    449 U.S. 5
    , 9-10 (1980); Estelle v. Gamble,
    429 U.S. 97
    , 106 (1976),
    reh'o denied,
    429 U.S. 1066
     (1977); Matthews v. United States,
    750 F.3d 1320
    , 1322
    (Fed. Cir. 2014); Diamond v. United States, 
    115 Fed. Cl. 516
    , 524, atf d,
    603 F. App'x 947
    (Fed. Cir.), cert. denied 
    135 S. Ct. 1909
     (2015). "However, "'[t]here is no duty on the part
    of the trial court to create a claim which [the plaintiffl has not spelled out in his [or her]
    pleading.""' Lenqen v. United States, 
    100 Fed. Cl. 317
     , 328 (2011) (alterations in original)
    (quoting Scoqin v. United States,33 Fed. C|.285,293 (1995) (quoting Clark v. Nat'l
    Travelers Life lns. Co.,
    518 F.2d 1167
    ,1169 (6th Cir. 1975))); see also Bussiev. United
    States, 
    96 Fed. Cl. 89
    , 94, affd, 
    443 F. App'x 542
     (Fed. Cir. 2011); Minehan v. United
    States, 
    75 Fed. Cl. 249
    ,253 (2007). 'While a pro se plaintiff is held to a less stringent
    standard than that of a plaintiff represented by an attorney, the pro se plaintiff,
    nevertheless, bears the burden of establishing the Court's jurisdiction by a preponderance
    of the evidence." Riles v. United States, 
    93 Fed. Cl. 163
    , 165 (2010) (citing Huqhes v.
    Rowe, 
    449 U.S. at
    9 and Tavlor v. United States, 
    303 F.3d 1357
    , 1359 (Fed. Cir.) ("Plaintiff
    bears the burden of showing jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence."), reh'q and
    reh'q en banc denied (Fed. Cir. 2002)); see also Shelkofskv v. United States, 1'
    19 Fed. Cl. 133
    , 139 (2014) ("[W]hile the court may excuse ambiguities in a pro se plaintiffs
    complaint, the court'does not excuse [a complaint's] failures."' (quoting Henke v. United
    States,
    60 F.3d 795
    ,799 (Fed. Cir. 1995)); Harrisv. United States, 113 Fed. C|.290,292
    (2013) ("Although plaintiffs pleadings are held to a less stringent standard, such leniency
    'with respect to mere formalities does not relieve the burden to meet jurisdictional
    requirements."'(quoting Minehan v. United States, 75 Fed. Cl. at 253)).
    The government and CyraCom have moved to dismiss plaintiffs' complaint for lack
    of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to RCFC 12(hX3). The Tucker Act, 28 U.S.C. S
    1491, grants jurisdiction to this court as follows:
    The United States Court of Federal Claims shall have jurisdiction to render
    judgment upon any claim against the United States founded either upon the
    Constitution, or any Act of Congress or any regulation of an executive
    department, or upon any express or implied contract with the United States,
    or for liquidated or unliquidated damages in cases not sounding in tort.
    't0
    28 U.S.C. $ 1491(a)(1) (2012). As interpreted by the United States Supreme Court, the
    Tucker Act waives sovereign immunity to allow jurisdiction over claims against the United
    States (1) founded on an express or implied contract with the United States, (2) seeking
    a refund from a prior payment made to the government, or (3) based on federal
    constitutional, statutory, or regulatory law mandating compensation by the federal
    government for damages sustained. See United States v. Navaio Nation, 
    556 U.S. 287
    ,
    289-90 (2009); United States v. Mitchell,
    463 U.S. 206
    ,216 (1983); see also Greenlee
    Cntv., Ariz. v. United States,
    487 F.3d 871
    ,875 (Fed. Cir.), reh'q and reh'q en banc denied
    (Fed. Cir.2007), cert. denied,
    552 U.S. 1142
    (2008); Palmerv. United States, 
    168 F.3d 13
    't0, 1314 (Fed. Cir. 1999).
    "Not every claim invoking the Constitution, a federal statute, or a regulation is
    cognizable under the Tucker Act. The claim must be one for money damages against the
    United States . . . ." United States v. Mitchell, 
    463 U.S. at 216
    ; see also United States v.
    White Mountain Apache Tribe, 
    537 U.S. 465
    , 472 (2003); Smith v. United States, 
    709 F.3d 1114
    , 1116 (Fed. Cir.), cert. denied, 
    134 S. Ct. 259
     (2013); RadioShack Corp. v.
    United States,
    566 F.3d 1358
    , 1360 (Fed. Cir.2009); Rick's Mushroom Serv.. lnc. v.
    United States, 
    521 F.3d 1338
    , 1343 (Fed. Cir. 2008) ("[P]laintiff must. . . identify a
    substantive source of law that creates the right to recovery of money damages against
    the United States."); Golden v. United States, 118 Fed. CL764,768 (2014). In Ontario
    Power Generation. Inc. v. United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the
    Federal Circuit identified three types of monetary claims for which jurisdiction is lodged in
    the United States Court of Federal Claims. The court wrote:
    The underlying monetary claims are of three types. . . . First, claims alleging
    the existence of a contract between the plaintiff and the government fall
    within the Tucker Act's     waiver.        Second, the Tucker Act's waiver
    encompasses claims where "the plaintiff has paid money over to the
    Government, directly or in effect, and seeks return of all or part of that sum."
    Eastport S.S. lCoro. v. United States, 
    178 Ct. Cl. 599
    ,605-06,] 372F.2d
    [1002,] 1007-08 t(1967)l (describing illegal exaction claims as claims "in
    which 'the Government has the citizen's money in its pocket"' (quoting
    Clappv. United States,127 Ct. C|.505, 117 F. Supp.576,580 (1954))... .
    Third, the Court of Federal Claims has jurisdiction over those claims where
    "money has not been paid but the plaintiff asserts that he is nevertheless
    entitled to a paymentfrom the treasury." Eastport S.S., 372F.2d at 1007.
    Claims in this third category, where no payment has been made to the
    government, either directly or in effect, require that the "particular provision
    of law relied upon grants the claimant, expressly or by implication, a right to
    be paid a certain sum." ld.; see also lUnited States v. lTestan, 
    424 U.S. 1392
    ,1 401-02 [1976] ("Where the United States is the defendant and the
    plaintiff is not suing for money improperly exacted or retained, the basis of
    the federal claim-whether it be the Constitution, a statute, or a regulation-
    does not create a cause of action for money damages unless, as the Court
    of Claims has stated, that basis 'in itself . . . can fairly be interpreted as
    11
    mandating compensation by the Federal Government for the damage
    sustained."' (quoting Eastport S.S., 372 F.2d at 1009)). This category is
    commonly refened to as claims brought under a "money-mandating"
    statute.
    Ontario PowerGeneration. Inc. v. United States,
    369 F.3d 1298
    ,'1301 (Fed. Cir.2004);
    see also Twp. of Saddle Brook v. United States, 
    104 Fed. Cl. 101
    , 106 (2012).
    To prove that a statute or regulation is money-mandating, a plaintiff must
    demonstrate that an independent source of substantive law relied upon "'can fairly be
    interpreted as mandating compensation by the Federal Government."' United States v.
    Navajo Nation, 
    556 U.S. at 290
     (quoting United States v. Testan,424 U.S.392,400
    (1976)); see also United States v. White Mountain Apache Tribe, 
    537 U.S. at 472
    ; United
    States v. Mitchell,
    463 U.S. at 217
    ; Blueport Co.. LLC v. United States, 
    533 F.3d 1374
    ,
    1383 (Fed. Cir. 2008), cert. denied, 
    555 U.S. 1153
     (2009). The source of law granting
    monetary relief must be distinct from the Tucker Act itself. See United States v. Navaio
    Nation, 
    556 U.S. at 290
     (The Tucker Act does not create "substantive rights; [it is simply
    al jurisdictional provision[] that operate[s] to waive sovereign immunity for claims
    premised on other sources of law (e.9., statutes or contracts).") "'lf the statute is not
    money-mandating, the Court of Federal Claims lacks jurisdiction, and the dismissal
    should be for lack of subject matter jurisdiction."' Jan's Helicopter Serv., Inc. v. Fed.
    Aviation Admin.,
    525 F.3d 1299
    , 1308 (Fed. Cir.2008) (quoting Greenlee Cntv., Ariz. v.
    United States, 
    487 F.3d at 876
    ); Fisher v. United States, 
    402 F.3d 1167
    , 1173 (Fed. Cir.
    2005) (The absence of a money-mandating source is "fatal to the court's jurisdiction under
    the TuckerAct."); Peoples v. United States, 
    87 Fed. Cl. 553
    , 565-66 (2009).
    When deciding a case based on a lack of subject matter jurisdiction or for failure
    to state a claim, this court must assume that all undisputed facts alleged in the complaint
    are true and must draw all reasonable inferences in the non-movant's favor. See Erickson
    v. Pardus, 
    551 U.S. at 94
     ("[W]hen ruling on a defendant's motion to dismiss, a judge
    must accept as true all of the factual allegations contained in the complaint." (citing Bell
    Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 
    550 U.S. 544
    , 555-56 (2007) (citing Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N. A.,
    
    534 U.S. 506
    , 508 n.1 (2002)))); Fid. & cuar. Ins. Underuriters, Inc. v. United States, BO5
    F.3d 1082, 1084 (Fed. Cir.2015); Trusted Inteqration. Inc. v. United States.
    659 F.3d 1
     1 59, 1 163 (Fed. Cir. 201 1).
    ''Determination of jurisdiction starts with the complaint, which must be well-pleaded
    in that it must state the necessary elements of the plaintiffs claim, independent of any
    defensethatmaybe interposed." Holleyv. United States,124F.3d1462,1465 (Fed. Cir.)
    (citing Franchise Tax Bd. v. Constr. Laborers Vacation Trust,
    463 U.S. 1
     (1983)), reh'q
    denied (Fed. Cir. 1997); see also Klamath Tribe Claims Comm. v. United States, 
    97 Fed. Cl. 203
    , 208 (2011); Gonzalez-McCaullev Inv. Grp.. lnc. v. United States, 93 Fed. CL710,
    713 (2010). A plaintiff need only state in the complaint "a short and plain statement of the
    grounds for the court's jurisdiction," and "a short and plain statement of the claim showing
    that the pleader is entitled to relief." RCFC 8(aX1), (2) (2016); Fed. R. Civ. P. B(a)(1), (2)
    12
    (2016); see also Ashcroft v. lqbal, 
    556 U.S. 662
    ,677-78 (2009) (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v.
    Twomblv, 
    550 U.S. 544
    ,555-57,570 (2007)). To properly state a claim for relief,
    "[c]onclusory allegations of law and unwarranted inferences of fact do not suffice to
    support a claim." Bradlev v. Chiron Corp., 1 
    36 F.3d 1317
    , 1322 (Fed. Cir. 1 998); see also
    McZeal v. Sprint Nextel Corp., 
    501 F.3d 1354
    , 1363 n.9 (Fed. Cn.2007) (Dyk, J.,
    concurring in part, dissenting in part) (quoting C. Wright and A. Miller, Federal Practice
    and Procedure S 1286 (3d ed. 2004)); Briscoe v. LaHue, 
    663 F.2d 713
    ,723 (7th Cir. 1981)
    ("[C]onclusory allegations unsupported by any factual assertions will not withstand a
    motion to dismiss."), affd, 
    460 U.S. 325
     (1983). "A plaintiff's factual allegations must'raise
    a right to relief above the speculative level' and cross 'the line from conceivable to
    plausible."'Three S Consultinq v. United States, 
    104 Fed. Cl. 510
    , 523 (2012) (quoting
    Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twomblv, 
    550 U.S. at 555
    ), affd, 
    562 F. App'x 964
     (Fed. Cir.), reh'q
    denied (Fed. Cn.2014\. As stated in Ashcroft v. lqbal, "[a] pleading that offers 'labels and
    conclusions' or'a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.' 
    550 U.S. at 555
    . Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders 'naked assertion[s]' devoid of 'further
    factual enhancement."' Ashcroft v. lqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v.
    Twomblv, 
    550 U.S. at 555
    ).
    When construed liberally, the plaintiffs' complaint appears to allege that AT&T,
    CyraCom, and Language Line, with and/or working on behalf of the United States
    Government, infringed two of their patents related to a dual handset phone, the '264 and
    the '798 Patents, as well as that one or more of these entities infringed their trademark
    for "The You Talk Two Phone." Although the complaint itself does not name the entities
    that, along with the federal government, allegedly infringed on plaintiffs' intellectual
    properties, three companies, '(AT&T) (Language-Line LLC), and (Cyra-com
    intl./co,/Noiance lnc.l," are mentioned in plaintiffs' February 23,2013letter to president
    Obama. In the letter, which was attached as an exhibit to plaintiffs' complaint, plaintiffs
    appear to allege that these three companies worked in concert with the United States to
    infringe on plaintiffs' intellectual property, stating that the three companies are in a "direct
    and legal partnership" with the Federal Government and that the "enormous commerce
    carried out by these companies" constituted a "a willfully ignored global and domestic
    infringement on intellectual property!" Regarding the patent infringement claims,
    plaintiffs allege that, and include as exhibits to their complaint excerpts from the '264 and
    the '798 Patents to try to show that, they are the inventors and patent holders of a device
    they refer to as "The You Talk Two Phone," a telephone that, as described in the '798
    Patent, contains "two handsets and circuitry that automatically adjusts internal amplifier
    gain to compensate for the extra handset even when not in use." In their complaint,
    plaintiffs appear to allege that these patents have been infringed by the United States and
    its  contractors, stating that the "global manufacturing              of'   'DUAL-HANDSET
    TELEPHONES" constitutes an "unethical and illegal use of Private Intellectual Property
    Rights" by "The United Sfates Federa I Governmenl and awarded subcontractors."
    Although the excerpts provided by plaintiffs from the '264 and the '798 Patents
    demonstrate that they were issued on February 18, 1997 and August 12, 1997,
    respectively, plaintiffs allege in their February 23, 2013 letter to President Obama that the
    13
    patents were actually granted "in 1993, then suddenly and mysteriously MIA (missing in
    action)." Plaintiffs conclude their complaint by seeking damages in the amount of
    $200,000,000.00 pursuant to "USC 1498a," apparently a reference to 28 U.S.C. S 1498(a)
    (2012), which governs claims for patent and copyright infringement against the United
    States and its contractors.
    The government and CyraCom both argue that plaintiffs' patent infringement
    claims should be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction because they are barred by the statute
    of limitations set forth in 28 U.S.C. S 2501. Suits against the United States are subject to
    a six-year statute of limitations. According to the statute at 28 U.S.C. g 250't:
    Every claim of which the United States Court of Federal Claims has
    jurisdiction shall be barred unless the petition thereon is filed within six years
    after such claim first accrues. . . . A petition on the claim of a person under
    legal disability or beyond the seas at the time the claim accrues may be filed
    within three years after the disability ceases.
    ld. "The six-year statute of limitations set forth in section 2501 is a jurisdictional
    requirement for a suit in the Court of Federal Claims." John R. Sand & Gravel Co. v.
    United States, 
    457 F.3d 1345
    , 1354 (Fed. Cir.), reh'q en bancdenied (Fed. Cir.2006),
    affd, 
    552 U.S. 1
     30 (2008). The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has
    indicated that a claim accrues ""'when all events have occurred to fix the Government's
    alleged liability, entitling the claimant to demand payment and sue here for his money.',','
    $an Carlos Apache Tribe v. United States, 
    639 F.3d 1346
    , 1358-59 (Fed. Cir.) (quoting
    9gmlsh lndi,?n Nation v. United States,419 F.3d't355, 1369 (Fed. Cir.2005) (quoting
    Martinezv. United States,
    333 F.3d 1295
    , 1303 (Fed. Cir.2003), cert. denied,540 U.S-.
    1177 (2004))), reh'q en banc denied (Fed. Cir. 2011); see also Floorpro, Inc. v. United
    States, 
    680 F.3d 1377
    , 1381 (Fed. Cir.2012); Martinez v. United States, 
    333 F.3d at 1303
     ('A cause of action cognizable in a Tucker Act suit accrues as soon as all events
    have occurred that are necessary to enable the plaintiff to bring suit, r.e., when 'all events
    have occurred to fix the Government's alleged liability, entifling the claimant to demano
    payment and sue here for his money."' (quoting Naqer Elec. co. v. United states. 177 ct.
    Cl.234,240, 368 F.2d847,851 (1966), motion denied, 184 Ct. Ct. 390, 
    396 F.2d 977
    (1968)); Hopland Band of Pomo Indians v. United States. Bsb F.2d 1573, 1577 (Fed. Cir.
    1988); see also Brizuela v. United States, 103 Fed. Ct.635,639, affld, 492F. App,x97
    (Fed. cir. 2012), cert. denied 133 s. ct. 1645 (2013). A Judge of the united states court
    of Federal Claims has noted that:
    It is well-established that a claim accrues under section 2501 ,When,all
    events have occurred to fix the Government's alleged liability, entiiling the
    claimant to demand payment and sue here for his money.',, Martinez v.
    United States,
    333 F.3d 1295
    , 1303 (Fed. Cir.2003) (en banc), cert. denied.
    
    540 U.S. 1177
     (2004) (quoting NaoerEtec. Co. v. United States,
    368 F.2d 847
    ,851 (Ct. Cl. 1966)); see also Samish,419 F.3d at 1369. Because, as
    noted, this requirement is jurisdictional, plaintiff bears the burden of
    14
    demonstrating that its claims were timely. See Alder Terrace, lnc. v. United
    States, 161 F .3d 1372, 1 377 (Fed. Cir. 1998); Entines v. United States, 39
    Fed. C|.673,678 (1997), affld, 
    185 F.3d 881
     (Fed. Cir.), cert. denied,
    526 U.S. 1117
     (1999); see also John R. Sand & Gravel Co. v. United States,
    
    457 F.3d 1345
    , 1362 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (Newman, J., dissenting); Revnolds
    v. Armv & Air Force Exch. Serv. , 846 F .2d 746, 748 (Fed. Cir. 1988).
    Parkwood Assocs. Ltd. P'ship v. United States, 
    97 Fed. Cl. 809
    , 813-14 (2011), aff'd, 
    465 F. App'x 952
     (Fed. Qn.2012); see also Klamath Tribe Claims Comm. v. United States,
    97 Fed. Cl. at209 (citingAlderTenace. Inc. v. United States, 
    161 F.3d 1372
    , 1377 (Fed.
    Cir. 1998)). Accrual of a claim is "'determined under an objective standard"' and plaintifi
    does not have to possess actual knowledge of all the relevant facts in order for a cause
    of action to accrue. FloorPro, Inc. v. United States, 
    680 F.3d at 1381
     (quoting Fallini v.
    United States,
    56 F.3d 1378
    , 1380 (Fed. Cir. 1995), cert. denied,
    517 U.S. 1243
     (1996)).
    Although the accrual of a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. S 25Q1 may, in certain limited
    scenarios, be suspended "until the claimant knew or should have known that the claim
    existed," Holmes v. United States,
    657 F.3d 1303
    , 1317 (Fed. Cir.2011) (quoting Younq
    v. United States,
    529 F.3d 1380
    , 1384 (Fed. Cir.2008)), a plaintiffs aileged "[i]gnorance
    of rights which should be known is not enough" to suspend the accrual of a claim. Braude
    v. United States.
    585 F.2d 1049
     (Ct. Cl. 1978) (quoting JapaneseWarNotes Claimants
    Ass'n v. United States. 373F.2d 356,358-59 (Ct. Cl. 1967) cert. denied,3Bg U.S.971
    (1967)). Rather, the accrual suspension doctrine is "'strictly and narrowly applied,"' and
    the accrual date of a cause of action will be suspended in onlyvery limited circumstances:
    "[the plaintiffl must either show that defendant has concealed its acts with the result that
    plaintiff was unaware of their existence or it must show that its injury was 'inherenfly
    unknowable' at the accrual date." See Martinez v. United States. 
    333 F.3d at 1319
    (quoting Welcker v. United States. 
    752 F.2d 1577
    , 1580 (Fed. Cir. 1985))' see atso
    Alliance of Descendants of Tex. Land Grants v. United States, 
    37 F.3d 1478
    , 1492 (Fed.
    cir. 1994); catawba Indian Tribe v. United States. 9BzF.2d 1s64, 1sz1-72 (Fed. cir.
    1 993); Holmes v. United States, 
    657 F.3d at 1317
    ; Welcker v. United States
    ,752 F .2d at
    1580; Japanese War Notes Claimants Ass'n v. United States, 373 F.2d at 359.
    The United states has waived sovereign immunity over patent infringement claims
    against the federal government and its contractors, and provided the United states court
    of Federal Claims with jurisdiction to hear such claims, under 28 U.S.C. S 1498(a).
    Section 1498(a) states, in relevant part:
    Whenever an invention described in and covered by a patent of the United
    States is used or manufactured by or for the United States without license
    of the owner thereof or laMul right to use or manufacture the same, the
    owner's remedy shall be by action against the United States in the United
    States Court of Federal Claims for the recovery of his reasonable and entire
    compensation for such use and manufacture. . .
    15
    For the purposes of this section, the use or manufacture of an invention
    described in and covered by a patent of the United States by a contractor,
    a subcontractor, or any person, firm, or corporation for the Government and
    with the authorization or consent of the Government, shall be construed as
    use or manufacture for the United States.
    28 U.S.C. g 1498(a) (2012): see also Zoltek Corp. v. United States,
    672 F.3d 1309
    , 1312
    (Fed. Cir. 2012)."A cause of action under28 U.S.C. g 1498 accrues'when the accuseo
    [instrumentality] is first available for use."' Flovd v. United States, 
    125 Fed. Cl. 183
    , 1Bg
    (2016) (alteration in original) (quoting Unitrac. LLC v. United States. 
    113 Fed. Cl. 156
    ,
    160 (2013), aff'd. 589 Fed. App'x. 990 (Fed. Cn.2015). "Each device, i.e., each individual
    member of the universe of infringing devices . . . can be taken only once in its lifetime,
    and if that taking occurs prior to the six-year period which immediately precedes the filing
    of the lawsuit in the court of claims, then recovery as to that particular device is barred
    forever by 28 U.S.C. s 2501." Starobin v. United States. 
    662 F.2d 747
    ,749-SO (Ct. Cl.
    1 981 ) (footnote omitted).
    To be timely, therefore, any cause of action plaintiffs may have for patent
    infringement must have been filed in this court within six years after the devices that
    allegedly infringed on plaintiffs' patents, in this case the dual-handset telepnones
    produced by cyracom and Language Line, were first made available for use. plaintiffs,
    complaint was filed on November 19, 201s. Therefore, plaintiffs must be able to snow
    that the allegedly infringing dual-handset telephones were made available no earlier than
    November 19, 2009, six years before the filing of their complaint on November 19,201s.
    Although plaintiffs fail to specify in their complaint when the devices they alleged infringed
    on their patents were first made available for use, in their February 23,2013 letter to
    President obama, plaintiffs state that AT&T, Language Line, and cyracom, "in direct and
    legal partnership" with the Federal Government, have been engaging in "a willfully
    ignored global and domestic infringement on intellectuat proplrtyl; "since 199s to
    the present, 2013." lt 1995 is the operative date of availability, 1995 fllls far outside the
    six year statute of limitations. Further, any alleged infringement that may have continued
    to occur after 1995 "to the present" would not have served to alter or ioll the accrual of
    plaintiffs' cause of action. See also unitrac, LLC v. united states, 
    113 Fed. cl
    . at 160
    ("[O]ngoing infringement is irrelevant to this Court's jurisdiction in tfre context of the statute
    of limitations." (citing Bissell y. united states, 41 Fed. App'x.414,416 (Fed.cir.2002))).
    similarly, the documents plaintiffs attach to their complaint specifically related to
    Cyraoom and Language Line both show that any potential cause of action plaintiffs might
    have had would have accrued more than six years prior to the filing of their complaint.
    Two of the documents plaintiffs attach to their complaint regarding cyiacom, the undated
    press announcement and advertisement and the press release from septembe r 26,2007
    .
    both state that cyracom had made a "dual-handset phone" publicly available in 1995.
    The 2007 press release states that, at that time, cyracom had also made available a
    "dual-handset cordless phone." with regard^to Language Line, the only reference
    to a
    to
    potentially infringing product in plaintiffs' filings comes in the form of what appears to be
    the screenshot from Language Line's website announcing a "new telephone with dual
    handsets." The screenshot is dated October 26, 2009, over six years prior to the filing of
    plaintiffs' complaint in this court.2 Therefore, the possible claims for patent infringement
    that plaintiffs included in their complaint, even when interpreted liberally, are barred by
    the statute of limitations under 28 usc S 2501.3 with respect to any patent infringement
    claims alleged by plaintiffs, the government and CyraCom's motions to dismrss are
    granted.
    Turning to plaintiffs' trademark infringement claims, plaintiffs fail to maxe, or
    provide any evidence that could be construed as making specific allegations that anyone
    infringed on their "The You Talk rwo Phone" trademark other than the general statement
    in pfaintiffs' February 23, 2013 letter to President obama, that AT&T, Language Line,
    cyracom, and the federal government engaged in "a willfully ignored glouat ano
    domestic infringement on intellectual propertyl". claims for irademark infringement
    are governed by the Lanham Act, 15 U.s.c. 1051, et seq. (2012). setting aside rinether
    plaintiffs' trademark allegations are sufficiently detailed to state a claim upon which relief
    can be granted, which this court believes they are not, this court lacks jurisdiction ro near
    any claims brought underthe Lanham Act, which jurisdiction lies exclusively in the United
    states District courts. see 15 u.s.c. S 1121(a) (2012) ("The district and territorial courts
    of the United States shall have original jurisdiction and the courts of appeal of the United
    2  The documents plaintiffs attach to their complaint related to AT&T do not provide any
    evidence that AT&T ever made available a dual-handset phone or any other device that
    could potentially be construed as infringing on plaintiffs' alleged paients. At best, the
    March 25, 1999 New York rimes article provided by plaintiffi could be interpreted as
    showing that AT&T was involved in some sort of partnership with Language Line which,
    potentially, could have involved Language Line's dual-handset phone. Altnougfr
    the court
    does not believe such an allegation is sufficient to state a claim upon which-relief could
    be granted, the court need not even decide this issue because any possible claim arising
    out of any alleged actions by AT&T related to a partnership with Linguage Line would be
    barred by the statute of limitations for the same reasons as plaintiffsi clJims arising from
    Language Line's actions are barred. Therefore, to the extent plaintiffs' complaint can oe
    construed as alleging any claims arising out of the actions of AT&T, such claims are
    d ismissed.
    3 Plaintiffs have failed to allege or proffer any evidence showing that the accrual of their
    patent infringement claims should be suspended on the grounds that ,,defendant has
    concealed its acts" or that "its injury was 'inherenfly unknowable' at the accrual date.,, see
    Martinez v. United states. 
    333 F.3d at
    1319 lquoiing welcker v. united States. 7s2 F-ie
    at 1580). such an argument also would fail in this case as there is evidence in the
    submissions to the court that plaintiffs actually were aware of the existence of the alleged
    infringement over six years prior to filing their complaint. Plaintiffs indicate in their motion
    for assignment of pro bono counsel that, in "the year 200g," John sacchetti ,,fell over rn
    shock" after seeing two "cYRAcoM-BLUE,.DItAL-HArvDsErfs/'while in the hospitat.
    17
    States (other than the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) shall have
    appellate jurisdiction, of all actions arising under [the Lanham Act.]"); see also Lockridqe
    v. United States,
    218 Ct. Cl. 687
    , 689 (1978) ("We therefore conclude that we have no
    jurisdiction over claims for trademark infringement."); Proxtronics Dosimetrv, LLC v.
    United States, _F.3d. Cl _,2016W1 5757156, at"11 (Fed. Cl. Sept.30,2016) ('lt
    is an unremarkable proposition that the Court of Federal Claims lacks jurisdiction over
    Lanham Act claims."). Therefore, with respect to any possible claims for trademark
    infringement that plaintiffs' complaint may be construed as alleging, the government and
    CyraCom's motions to dismiss are granted.
    CONCLUSION
    Plaintiffs have failed to show that the requirements of RCFC 25(a) for the
    substitution of a proper party have been met. Plaintiffs' September 12, 2016 and October
    3,2016 "MOT|ON[S] TO RETATN THE ESTATE OF MARK JOSEPH SACCHETTT,'
    therefore, are DENIED. Plaintiffs' claims for patent infringement are barred by the statute
    of limitations, and this court lacks jurisdiction to hear plaintiffs' trademark infringement
    claims. The motions to dismiss filed by the United States and the third-party defendant
    CyraCom International, Inc., therefore, are GRANTED. Plaintiffs' complaint                is
    DISMISSED. The clerk shall enter JUDGMENT consistent with this opinion.
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    zL      /tz"/,-
    MARIAN BLANK HORN
    Judge
    18
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 15-1399

Citation Numbers: 129 Fed. Cl. 307

Judges: Marian Blank Horn

Filed Date: 11/16/2016

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 1/13/2023

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