Ronald J. Schutz
Ronald J. Schutz is the Chair of the Intellectual Property Litigation Group and a member of the firm's Executive Board. Mr. Schutz is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America. In 2008 the National Law Journal named Mr. Schutz to its annual list of the "Top 10 Winning Litigators in the United States." Mr. Schutz is a frequent lecturer and author on topics related to litigation and trials and he is often quoted in the business and legal press. He has also appeared on the NBC Nightly News and the CBS Morning News.
Mr. Schutz is extensively involved in community affairs. He is Chair of the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection (appointed by Governor Pawlenty), Chair of the Center of the American Experiment, a member of the Board of Directors of the Guthrie Theater and the YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis. He is also a member of the Alumni Advisory Board of the Minnesota Law Review. Mr. Schutz is also a past president of the University of Minnesota Law School Alumni Association.
Mr. Schutz attended Marquette University on an ROTC Scholarship where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Mr. Schutz graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota Law School where he was a member of the Law Review. After law school he fulfilled his military obligation by serving four years in the United States Army JAG Corps stationed with the 7th Infantry Division where he tried twenty felony jury trials.
Selected Results*
Trial Counsel in Fonar Corporation v. General Electric, a patent infringement case in which a federal jury in New York awarded Fonar Corporation $110.5 million. The National Law Journal listed this case as the seventh largest jury verdict of any type in 1995. The case was affirmed on appeal in the amount of $103 million and was cited by IP Worldwide as the largest patent jury verdict ever upheld on appeal at the time. Fonar Corporation v. General Electric Co., 107 F.3d 1543 (Fed. Cir.), cert. denied, 118 S.Ct. 266 (1997).
Trial Counsel in Grantley Patent Holdings, Inc. v. Clear Channel Communications, Inc., a patent infringement case in which a federal jury in the Eastern District of Texas awarded Grantley Corporation, Mr. Schutz's client, $66 million for infringing four patents related to an integrated inventory management system for radio advertising time. The jury also found that the infringement was willful. The verdict was announced on April 22, 2008. On June 11, 2008, the court enhanced the damages by more than $16.5 million, awarded prejudgment interest, and entered judgment totaling more than $89,000,000.
Trial Counsel in St. Clair Intellectual Property Consultants, Inc. v. Canon, Inc. et al., No. 03-241 (D. Del., filed February 28, 2003) a case in which a federal jury in Wilmington, Delaware awarded Mr. Schutz's client, St. Clair, $34.7 million after a finding that Canon infringed four patents relating to digital camera technology. The verdict was announced on October 8, 2004.
Trial Counsel in St. Clair Intellectual Property Consultants, Inc. v. Sony Corp. et al., No. 01-557 (D. Del., filed Aug. 14, 2001) a case in which a federal jury in Wilmington, Delaware awarded the client, St. Clair, $25 million after a finding that Sony infringed four patents relating to digital camera technology. The verdict was announced on February 25, 2003. The parties entered into a license agreement two days later, the terms of which are confidential.
Trial Counsel in St. Clair Intellectual Property Consultants, Inc. v. Fuji, Ltd. et al., No. 03-241 (D. Del., filed February 28, 2003) a case in which a federal jury in Wilmington, Delaware awarded Mr. Schutz's client, St. Clair, $3 million after a finding that Fuji infringed four patents relating to digital camera technology. The verdict was announced on October 25, 2004.
Trial Counsel in LaserMaster Corporation v. Sentinel Imaging resulted in jury verdict of $2.2 million in a trade secret misappropriation case. Retained as trial counsel only five weeks before trial. LaserMaster Corporation v. Sentinel Imaging, Civ. No. 4-96-746 (D. Minn. 1997).
Trial Counsel in TVI v. Microsoft (N.D. Calif). TVI is the owner of several patents covering the autoplay feature of Windows. TVI sued Microsoft in the Northern District of California alleging that all versions of Microsoft Windows since Windows 95 infringed these patents. The case settled in October 2005 a little more than one week before trial. Microsoft took a license under the patents. All other terms of the settlement are confidential.
Trial Counsel in Luigino's, Inc. v. Robert Peterson and IBP; represented Robert Peterson, the CEO of IBP, and the company, in the defense of a $500 million theft of trade secret, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract case. The district court dismissed the case on a motion for summary judgment shortly before trial, a decision that was affirmed on appeal. Luigino's, Inc. v. Peterson et al., 317 F.3d 909 (8th Cir. 2003).
Trial Counsel in Carlson Marketing Group, Inc. et al. v. SME Associates, et al., Case No. CT 02-012914 (D.Ct. Minn. 2002); represented Carlson in an action against SME and its principals for theft of trade secrets relating to Carlson's Olympic hospitality business for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. Obtained a temporary injunction and later a settlement including a permanent injunction.
Media
- NBC Nightly News
- CBS Morning News
- The Detroit Free Press
Quoted in:
- The New York Times
- The National Law Journal
- Newsday
- The American Lawyer
- Chief Financial Officer
- The Minneapolis Star Tribune
- The St. Paul Pioneer Press
- City Business
- Twin Cities Business Monthly
- The Fairfield County Business Journal
Recognition
- Named on the list of the "Top 10 Super Lawyers," Minnesota Law & Politics (2009)**
- Listed in IAM250 - World Leading IP Strategists (2009)**
- Recipient of the "Distinguished Alumni Award," Minnesota Law Review (2009)
- Named a "Top 10 Winning Attorney," by The National Law Journal (2008)**
Ranked #1 in Minnesota for Litigation: Intellectual Property in Chambers USA (2008)**
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
Named to “3000 Leading Plaintiffs’ Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon (2007)**
Named by Minnesota Law & Politics as one of the "Top 100 Super Lawyers"**
According to Chambers USA’s profile "Ron Schutz's trial experience has earned him a reputation as 'one of the most successful IP lawyers in the country.' Schutz, chair of the firm's IP litigation department, has won a series of huge victories running to hundreds of millions of dollars."
Included in The Best Lawyers in America Eleventh Edition to the present **
Named by Minnesota Law & Politics as a Super Lawyer in Intellectual Property Litigation (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) **
Memberships
American Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection, Chairman
American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
University of Minnesota Law Review, Alumni Advisory Board
Center of the American Experiment, Chairman
YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis, Board of Directors
Guthrie Theater, Board of Directors
William Mitchell College of Law IP Institute, Board of Advisors
Minnesota Academy for Conservative Leadership, Board of Advisors
Republican National Lawyers Association (Life Member)
University of Minnesota Law Alumni Association, President (2002-03)
Northwest Suburbs Cable Communication Commission (1987-1989)
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota
- U. S. Army Court of Military Review
- U. S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U. S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- U. S. Court of Military Appeals
- U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U. S. District Court, Minnesota
- U. S. Patent and Trademark Office
- U. S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., with honors (1981), Member of the Minnesota Law Review
- Marquette University, magna cum laude, Mechanical Engineering
Book Chapters
Patent Enforcement Best Practices, Chapter 6: Making the Client Aware of All the Angles (Aspatore Books 2007)
Making Innovation Pay, Chapter 9: It Takes More Than Being Right to Win a Patent Dispute, Edited by Bruce Berman (Wiley 2006)
- Patent Litigation Strategies Handbook, 2d Ed., Chapter 10: Interrogatories and Requests for Admissions, Edited by Berry L. Grossman and Gary M. Hoffman (BNA Books)
Articles
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You Can Run But You Can't Hide - 271(a) Goes Wireless
Intellectual Property Today (June 2005) (co authored)
-
Interrogatories and Requests for Admission
Patent Litigation Strategies Handbook, Second Edition, Chapter 10, (2005) (co-authored)
-
Case Management Issues in Patent Litigation
The Sedona Conference Journal (Fall 2004) (with Jonathan Goins)
-
Graphics Shed Light on Complex IP Cases
The National Law Journal, (July 16, 2001) (with Nicholas Boebel and Alex Treibitz, CEO of Z-Axis Corp.)
-
Strategies for Patent Holders Contemplating Litigation
Managing Intellectual Property: Patent Yearbook
(1999)
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'Step-Plus-Function' At Last Revisited
The National Law Journal (May 24, 1999) (co-authored)
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Are You "Ready for Patenting?" Pfaff And The New On-Sale Bar Test
(April 26, 1999)
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If You Snooze, Do You Lose Your Right to Sue?
The National Law Journal (October, 19, 1998) (co-authored)
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The Patent Files
Chief Executive (June 1998) (with Jan Conlin)
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On Sale Bar Requires a More Complete Invention
The National Law Journal (June 16, 1997) (with Darren Schwiebert)
-
Vitronics Sets Road Map for Patent Construction
The National Law Journal (October 28, 1996) (with Darren Schwiebert)
-
Educating the Jury: The Multimedia Way
New York Law Journal, p. S4 (October 23, 1995)
-
Computer Animation Tutors Jury
The National Law Journal, p. C1 (September 11, 1995)
-
Trade Dress Protection Expanded
Outside Counsel (Winter 1994)
Selected Speeches
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Litigating with an Acquired Patent: Proving that Trolls are Really Warm Fuzzy Creatures
AIPLA, La Quinta, California
(Scheduled for January 29, 2010)
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Tenth Annual Sedona Conference on Patent Litigation
The Sedona Conference Institute, Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa, Sedona, Arizona
(October 22-23, 2009)
-
Case Study: Ensuring Optimum Efficiency when Litigation Work is Outsourced
American Conference Institute's LPO Summit, New York, New York
(February 23-24, 2009)
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First Chair Forum for Private Practitioners and First Chair Forum for In-House Counsel
2008 Midwest Intellectual Property Institute, Minnesota CLE Conference Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
(September 25-26, 2008)
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Avoiding the Potential Pitfalls in Litigation Where Work has Been Outsourced
American Conference Institute, LPO Summit, New York, New York
(September 15-16, 2008)
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The Role of IP Litigation
Incremental Advantage, Managing Intellectual Property for Maximum Returns Conference, San Francisco, California
(July 16, 2008)
-
Demystifying Judicial Appointments
Minnesota State Bar Association, Duluth, Minnesota
(June 16, 2008)
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The 20th Annual General Counsel Conference (Panelist)
Corporate Counsel, New York, New York
(June 9-10, 2008)
-
Licensing, Portfolio Monetization, and the Future of Contingency Fee Patent Litigation
8th Annual Advanced Patent Law Institute, San Jose, California
(November 28, 2007)
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Gunfight at the IP Coral - World Class Trial Lawyers Demonstrate How to Win a Bet the Company Case
AIPLA, Boston, Massachusetts
(May 9, 2007)
-
Strategies for Managing Intellectual Property Litigation
IncreMental Advantage, The Harvard Club, New York City, New York
(February 28, 2007)
-
Patent Infringement Litigation
Patent Resources Group, Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, NV
(October 16-18, 2006)
-
Adopting a Theme for Your Case
The ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law, Redwood City (San Francisco), California
(September 28, 2006)
-
Seventh Annual Sedona Conference on Patent Litigation
The Sedona Conference Institute, Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa, Sedona, Arizona
(October 12-13, 2006)
-
Financing IP Litigation
The Wall Street Transcript, San Francisco, CA
(July 20-21, 2006)
-
Patent Infringement Litigation
Patent Resources Group, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, Bonita Springs, FL
(April 6-8, 2006)
-
Patent Litigation: Big Changes on the Horizon
Inventors Network, Minneapolis, MN
(February 21, 2006)
- Sixth Annual Sedona Conference on Patent Litigation
Sedona, Arizona (October 27-28, 2005) - Patent Litigation: Big Changes on the Horizon
Association for Corporate Growth-Silicon Valley Chapter, Los Altos Hills, California (October 13, 2005) - What Should IP Laws Protect Going Forward?
ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law, ABA Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois (August 6, 2005) - Patent Infringement Litigation
Patent Resources Group, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, Bonita Springs, Florida (April 17-19, 2005) - Licensing and Negotiation Strategies: The Litigator's Perspective
AIPLA 28th Mid-Winter Institute, Orlando, Florida (January 26, 2005) - Patent Infringement Litigation
Patent Resources Group, The Registry Resort, Naples, Florida (April 22-24, 2004) - Managing the Gladiators-Surviving Patent Litigation
AUTM 2004 Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas (March 6, 2004) - Patent Litigation: Taking on the Corporate Infringer
William Mitchell Chapter of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy, St. Paul, Minnesota (February 23, 2004) - Patent Litigation IV
The Sedona Conference, Radisson Poco Diablo, Sedona, Arizona (November 20-21, 2003) - Contingent Fee IP Litigation: Are Potential Rewards Worth the Risks?
2003 Midwest Intellectual Property Institute, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Minneapolis Minnesota (September 18-19, 2003) - Patent Strategies 2003
FindLaw Corporate Counsel Center, Glasser Legal Works, Stanford University, Stanford, California (June 9, 2003) - Patent Strategies 2003
Glasser Legal Works, Boston Harbor Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts (April 29, 2003) - Basic Patent Infringement Litigation
Patent Resources Group, The Registry Resort, Naples, Florida (May 2-3, 2002) - Patent Infringement Litigation
Patent Resources Group, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, Bonita Springs, Florida (April 17-19, 2005) - Managing the Gladiators-Surviving Patent Litigation
AUTM 2002 Annual Meeting, San Diego, California (February 28-March 2, 2002) - Patent Litigation: Taking on the Corporate Infringer
William Mitchell Chapter of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy, St. Paul, Minnesota (February 23, 2004) - Handling Intellectual Property Issues in Business Transactions-Due Diligence in Intellectual Property Transactions
Practicing Law Institute, Pentagon City, Virginia (February 11-12, 2002) - Corporate Counsel-Keeping Ahead of the Game in 2002
Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Calhoun Beach Club, Minneapolis, Minnesota (January 30, 2002) - Demonstrative Evidence-Using Evidence Throughout a Trial
Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota (January 15, 2002) - Patent Litigation
The Sedona Conference, Sedona, Arizona (November 15-16, 2001) - Basic Patent Infringement Litigation
Patent Resources Group, Westin Innisbrook Resort, Tampa Bay, Florida (April 22-24, 2001) - Handling Intellectual Property in Business Transactions
Practicing Law Institute, Tyson's Corner, Virginia (February 12-13, 2001) - Patent Litigation
The Sedona Conference, Sedona Arizona (November 9-20, 2000) - Key Issues Facing Boards of Directors: Strategic Intellectual Property Portfolio Management
The Directors Roundtable, Hotel Intercontinental, Los Angeles, California (October 4, 2000) - Key Issues Facing Boards of Directors: Strategic Intellectual Property Portfolio Management
The Directors Roundtable, Radisson Plaza Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota (September 22, 2000) - The Trial Lawyer's Approach to Winning Patent Cases
The Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, Illinois (September 7, 2000) - Basic Patent Infringement Litigation
Patent Resources Group, The Registry Resort, Naples, Florida (April 13-15, 2000) - Basic Patent Infringement Litigation
Patent Resources Group, Ritz Carlton, Rancho Mirage, California (October 13-15, 1999) - Trade Secrets
Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Marriott City Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota (January 12, 1999) - Preparing the Trial Theme From Day One
1999 National CLE Conference-Intellectual Property Law, Vail, Colorado (January 12, 1999) - Business Implications of Recent Patent Infringement Cases
Annual Meeting of the Licensing Executives Society, The Fountainebleau Hilton, Miami Beach, Florida (October 26, 1998) - Courtroom Technology Trying Civil and Criminal Cases in New Ways
Suffolk Academy of Law, Hauppauge, New York (October 19, 1998) - Valuation of Intellectual Capital
ICM Conferences, Marriott Marquis Hotel, New York, New York (September 17, 1998) - Valuation of Intellectual Capital
ICM Conferences, Park Hyatt Hotel, Los Angeles, California (August 26, 1998) - Using Technology in Litigation
Minnesota State Bar Association CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota (February 20, 1998) - Preparing for and Winning the $100 Million Patent Case
1998 National CLE Conference-Intellectual Property Law, Vail, Colorado (January 6-10, 1998) - Enforcing Intellectual Property Rights
Directors Roundtable Conference for Corporate Counsel, Harvard Club, New York, New York (October 30, 1997) - Enforcing Intellectual Property Rights
Directors Roundtable National Conference for Corporate Counsel, Stamford, Connecticut (October 30, 1997) - Case Study of Patent Infringement Damages From Beginning to End
Law & Politics Intellectual Property Damages Seminar, Minneapolis Athletic Club, Minneapolis, Minnesota (May 5, 1997) - Organizing the Trial for Success Jury Trials in Patent and High Tech Litigation
American Conference Institute, Park Lane Hotel, New York, New York (May 1-2, 1997) - Demonstrative Evidence
Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Bloomington Marriott Hotel, Bloomington, Minnesota (January 31, 1997) - Pretrial Planning and Strategy in the $100 Million Patent Case
1997 National CLE Conference on Intellectual Property Law, Law Education Institute, Inc. and The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., Vail, Colorado (January 13-19, 1997) - How to Introduce and Use Exhibits in the Courtroom
Minnesota State Bar Association CLE, Minnesota Law Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 29, 1996) - Trial Skills Seminar-Demonstrative and Computer Evidence
Minnesota State Bar Association CLE, Minnesota Law Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota (June 13, 1996) - Analysis of Fonar v. General Electric, Including Litigation Trends and Tactics
Law & Politics Intellectual Property Law CLE, Minneapolis Athletic Club, Minneapolis, Minnesota (May 20, 1996) - Patent Malpractice: Avoiding, Defending Against, and Asserting Patent Resources Group
The Registry Resort, Naples, Florida (April 25-27, 1996) - Organizing the Conduct of the Trial for Success
The American Conference Institute Seminar on Jury Trials in Patent and High Tech Litigation, Hotel Nikko, Chicago, Illinois (April 22-23, 1996) - High Stakes-High Tech Intellectual Property Trials Course Chair
Minnesota Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Bloomington Marriott Hotel, Bloomington, Minnesota (April 12, 1996) - Pitfalls in IP Practice That Lead to Allegations of Malpractice
ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law Eleventh Annual Spring Educational Programs, Washington National Airport Hilton, Arlington, Virginia (April 11, 1996) - Strategic Considerations and the Interplay Between Licensing and Litigation
Licensing Executives Society Luncheon Meeting, Minneapolis Athletic Club, Minneapolis, Minnesota (November 2, 1995) - How to Work with and Prepare Expert Witnesses in Federal Court Commercial Litigation to Support a $110 Million Verdict
Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Minneapolis Athletic Club, Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 18, 1995) - Patent Litigation
Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association CLE at the 1995 Minnesota State Bar Association Convention, Bloomington, Minnesota (June 22, 1995) - Pretrial Strategies
Intellectual Property Litigation Seminar, Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota (February 10, 1995)