As I understand it, a dependent claim would be invalidated if the cited independent claim is found invalid by the authority (examiner or judge).
QUESTIONS
Scenario 1: USPTO examiner finds an invalid dependent claim and for this conversation irrefutable (be it merit or rules). Does the examiner provide the option to grant the patent without the defective claims or does the patent application completely denied?
Scenario 2: USPTO examiner finds an invalid independent claim and for this conversation irrefutable. Does the examiner provide the option to grant the patent without the invalid claim or does is the patent application completely denied?
Scenario 3: An American patent court judge finds a single claim invalid: does this mean that the entire patent does not hold (other independent claims fail)?
After submitting the non provisional application, is (if any) any negotiating of the scope claims performed if the USPTO examiner rejects a claim?