The Intellectual Property Ethics Bar lost a luminary this weekend with the passing, on February 28, 2015, of Paul A. Vapnek. Mr. Vapnek was 86. “Preeminent.” “A mentor.” “‘Dean’ of legal ethics in California,” were just some of the words used to describe Mr. Vapnek in an article published in the March 2013, edition of the
In Memoriam: Paul A. Vapnek Read More »
How close is too close? That is a question that has perplexed patent attorneys who prepare and prosecute patent applications for multiple clients in the same, or similar, fields of technology. At least one state appeals court has decided to take this question head on. As previously reported in our January 2, 2015, posting, the Justices of
Mass. Sup. Ct. Schedules Oral Argument on Subject Matter Conflicts in Patent Prosecution Read More »
On December 31, 2014, the USPTO Director issued an Order of Reciprocal Discipline excluding a Bellevue, Washington patent attorney from practicing before the Office. Former patent attorney Jeffrey T. Haley’s exclusion followed his voluntary resignation from the State Bar of Washington, where he had been charged with attempted extortion from his former law firm. The Compensation
Patent Attorney Disbarred For Attempting To Extort Fees From Former Law Firm Read More »
“I made a wrong mistake” – Yogi Berra Before his sentencing for orchestrating the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history, Bernie Madoff explained to the court he had “made a terrible mistake.” To borrow a line from my 11-year old daughter: “No duh.” Madoff’s “mistake” led to a 150-year prison sentence. In bar disciplinary
To Err Is Human – But Is It Unethical? Read More »
On December 26, 2014, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts issued the following Announcement in an appeal pending before the court: ANNOUNCEMENT: The Justices are soliciting amicus briefs. Whether, under Mass. R. Prof. C. 1.7, an actionable conflict of interest arose when, according to the allegations in the complaint, attorneys in different offices of the
Last week, the United States Supreme Court turned more than a few heads when it issued an attorney discipline order against Howard Shipley – a partner at Foley & Lardner, LLC – for his conduct relating to a (denied) petition for writ of certiorari. The Supreme Court is demanding that, within 40 days, Shipley show cause “why
SCOTUS Threatens Sanctions Against Patent Attorney: Is USPTO Ethical Discipline Next? Read More »
On Wednesday, December 10, 2014, the New Jersey Intellectual Property Law Association (NJIPLA) will hold its first ever seminar dedicated exclusively to ethical issues in the practice of intellectual property law. The half-day program, entitled Ethics in IP, will feature speakers covering a range of ethics topics specifically tailored for the IP practitioner. Whether your practice is litigation, prosecution, or counseling,
IP Ethics – Upcoming CLE Event Read More »
Never lie, never cheat, never steal. – John Wooden Patent attorney Rodney K. Worrel should have listened to the sage advice of UCLA’s legendary basketball coach. The California-based attorney has been excluded from practice before the USPTO for engaging in a pattern of misconduct that involved multiple acts of neglect, deceit, and conversion of client
