I realize I was a little glib in ignoring your comments on the right to a jury trial. This IS a gray area, in that you can be deprived of your property. Howeve

I realize I was a little glib in ignoring your comments on the right to a jury trial. This IS a gray area, in that you can be deprived of your property. However, if there's a city planning board hearing on your application to remodel your house, you're not entitled to a jury. The IRS can assess penalties without a jury. So it's not as simple as "you have a right to a jury trial." The PTO awarded your patent, a process that might have included multiple appeals, without juries. Not all administrative procedures allow juries. I attended one day of the Apple v. Samsung trial in San Jose. Google had a "war room" (I assume Apple did, too), which was a suite in a hotel where we had meals brought in, and held all the work product. You can't risk sitting around in a restaurant and having people overhearing and bothering you. The war room has a guard outside 24x7. Expert witnesses are transported there and housed, and paid anywhere from $300 to $900 an hour. Most of the legal staff don't live in that city and have to travel there. Partners in big law firms bill at $1000 an hour or so. Big money.