In a reciprocal discipline matter, the USPTO publicly reprimanded a successful and experienced patent attorney following his criminal conviction for domestic battery. See In re Gortler, No. D2013-06 (USPTO Dir.). Attorney Hugh P. Gortler’s problems began in 2011, soon after he told his wife he wanted a divorce. See In re Gortler, Case Nos. 11-C-2562-DFM (Cal. […]
Domestic Violence Conviction Nets Attorney USPTO Reprimand Read More »
On August 19, 2014, the USPTO Director issued a final order suspending a patent attorney for 20-months based on three separate suspensions issued by the Supreme Court of California. The USPTO added an additional six-month period to the suspension—for a total suspension of 26 months—based on the attorney’s failure to cooperate with the OED’s disciplinary
USPTO Suspends Ethically-Challenged Patent Attorney Read More »
T The USPTO publicly reprimanded a patent attorney who used information he learned while representing a former client to file, as named plaintiff, a false patent marking lawsuit for his own benefit. In re Cipriani, No. D2012 This disciplinary action arose from attorney Glen Cipriani’s work as an associate on a patent litigation on behalf of
USPTO Reprimands Patent Attorney for Misusing Confidential Client Information Read More »
On Tuesday, September 30, 2014, DuPont and Widener University School of Law will be holding the 2014 Intellectual Property Continuing Legal Education Seminar at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware. The full-day seminar will include a lecture on ethics by Professor David Hricik, a noted author, speaker, and expert on ethical issues in intellectual property law. On Thursday,
Upcoming IP Ethics Continuing Legal Education Read More »
On August 19, 2014, USPTO Deputy Director Michelle Lee temporarily suspended a 44-year old patent attorney after his conviction for soliciting sex online with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year old girl. Attorney Robert M. Bohanek’s license will remain suspended until completion of disciplinary proceedings. In re Bohanek, No. D2014-30. According to the Texas Attorney
USPTO Suspends Patent Attorney Convicted Of Soliciting Sex With Minor Read More »
The USPTO suspended a patent attorney for six months from practicing before the Office following the attorney’s six-month suspension from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts bar. See In re Ramos, No. D2014-09. Timothy A. Ramos’ legal troubles began in 2009 as a result of his work for the Ramos Law Group, Inc., in Ohio. During an
USPTO Suspends Patent Attorney After State Discipline For UPL And Drug Conviction Read More »
The USPTO recently settled a disciplinary action filed against an IP attorney by suspending him from practice before the Office for five (5) months for failing to communicate and allowing his clients’ trademark applications to become abandoned without their knowledge or consent. In re Shaffer, No. D2014-18. This disciplinary matter arose from an attorney’s representation of two
Former Client Publicly Blasts Attorney Suspended by USPTO for Failure to Communicate Read More »
The USPTO settled a disciplinary action filed against a non-patent attorney who billed a client thousands of dollars, at a rate of $1,000 per hour, to prepare a patent application and then, without his client’s knowledge or consent, outsourced the legal work to an unaffiliated patent attorney for a fraction of the fee paid by the client. In re Lehat, No.
USPTO Disciplines Attorney For Billing $1,000 Hourly “Relationship Fee” Read More »
