Schott Optical Glass, Inc. v. United States
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
750 F.2d 62 (1984)
- Written by Gonzalo Rodriguez, JD
Facts
Schott Optical Glass, Inc. (Schott) (plaintiff) imported filter glass used in optical instruments. The United States Customs Service (customs) (defendant) determined that the imports should be classified for tariff purposes as “other optical glass” under item 540.67 of the Tariff Schedules of the United States. Schott challenged customs’ determination, arguing that the imports should have been classified as “colored or special glass” under item 542.92. During trial, the Court of International Trade ruled that, because it had defined the meaning of “optical glass” in an earlier case between the same parties and held that Schott’s imports were properly classified as “optical glass,” it was bound under stare decisis to apply the same definition. Further, the court held that the principle of res judicata prevented Schott from relitigating the correctness of its prior decision. Accordingly, the court prohibited Schott from entering evidence that the court’s earlier ruling on the meaning of “optical glass” was clearly erroneous. Schott appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Friedman, J.)
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