SAN FRANCISCO — Sandy Svetcov is arguing like his life depends on it.

Before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on May 17, he is pleading, cajoling, begging the judges to see a securities case his way. “Judge [Marilyn Hall] Patel never cited a single fact, not a single fact,” he says, referring to the summary judgment that went against his client. “It violates the Tellabs prescription that you consider all of the facts!“