On November 5, 2014, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an order publicly reprimanding IP litigator Edward R. Reines. See In re Edward R. Reines, 14-MA004 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 5, 2014) (en banc). The discipline is the latest chapter in an unusual saga surrounding an email to Reines from former Chief Circuit Court Judge […]
“If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.” – Mark Twain Give patent attorney Stephen Robinson at least a little credit – he was honest about being dishonest. The fact he self-reported his ethical violations to the Kansas Bar was not enough to save his state law license. In re Stephen R. Robinson, No. 107,311 (Kan. Sup. Ct.). Nor
“It is strange the way the ignorant and inexperienced so often and so undeservedly succeed when the informed and the experienced fail.” – Mark Twain in Eruption In the world of attorney discipline, the mental state of the attorney is an important factor in determining the type and severity of discipline bar counsel will seek.
Patent Attorney Who Lied to Client and Bar Counsel Receives Two-Month Suspension Read More »
Warning to all patent and trademark practitioners—allowing a non-practitioner to “ghost sign” your name on papers filed with the USPTO can be hazardous to your law license. So learned the named partner of a large IP boutique firm who routinely allowed a non-attorney assistant to sign his name on documents filed with the Office. In
“Super Lawyer” Resigns From USPTO Bar Following Ethics Complaint Read More »
In 2013, the USPTO scrapped its old ethics rules based on the Model Code of Professional Responsibility and promulgated “new” rules modeled after the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. The USPTO recognized it was late to this dance – 49 states and the District of Columbia had already adopted some version of the ABA
Patent and Trademark Ethics – Reciprocal Discipline at the USPTO 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 »
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 »
