Intellectual property attorney William P. Ramey III is appealing a sanctions order issued by a Texas federal judge that mandates he obtain court approval before initiating future patent infringement lawsuits in the Western District of Texas. Ramey contends that the judge’s decision was based on incorrect evidence, particularly regarding allegations that he failed to conduct adequate pre-suit investigations.
Judge Alan Albright of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas imposed the sanctions following a case involving Ramey’s client, MCom IP LLC, against Cisco Systems Inc. The court found that Ramey did not appear at half of the hearings, presented allegations lacking merit, and failed to perform a pre-suit investigation before filing claims. Consequently, Ramey and MCom were ordered to pay $72,500 in attorney’s fees and were enjoined from filing new patent suits without prior judicial permission. Additionally, Ramey is required to attach a copy of the sanctions order to any future patent infringement complaints filed in the district. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/cisco-wins-sanctions-against-texas-patent-attorney-bill-ramey?utm_source=openai))
Ramey’s appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit argues that the sanctions are unwarranted and could have a detrimental impact on his legal practice. He asserts that the court’s findings were based on incorrect evidence and that the sanctions are excessively punitive. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/patent-attorney-seeks-sanctions-stay-citing-reputational-damage?utm_source=openai))
This appeal is part of a series of legal challenges Ramey has faced in recent years. In March 2025, a California federal magistrate judge sanctioned Ramey and two colleagues for unauthorized practice of law, imposing fines exceeding $60,000. The court found that Ramey and his associates practiced law without a California license in multiple cases to avoid paying out-of-state admission fees. ([law360.com](https://www.law360.com/ip/articles/2316632/texas-ip-atty-gets-60k-sanction-for-unauthorized-practice?utm_source=openai))
Ramey’s litigation history includes numerous admonishments by federal courts across the country. His firm, Ramey LLP, handled at least 25% of patent suits filed in 2024 in the Western District of Texas. Judges have granted more than 20 requests for sanctions and attorneys’ fees against Ramey, his firm, or their clients. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/cisco-wins-sanctions-against-texas-patent-attorney-bill-ramey?utm_source=openai))
The Federal Circuit’s decision on Ramey’s appeal will be closely watched by the legal community, as it may set a precedent for how courts address attorney conduct and the filing of patent infringement cases in high-volume jurisdictions.