Overview

About Ronald D. Coleman

I am a commercial litigator specializing in federal litigation, including trials. I work extensively with online businesses, specifically in connection with the use of intellectual property on the Internet in both litigation and non-litigation roles. My firm is also recognized for its strength in construction litigation.

I have successfully represented clients of every size in state and federal courts, arbitrations and mediations in a variety of litigation matters, including contract disputes, distributorship litigation, trademark and unfair competition cases, business tort claims, toxic tort and insurance coverage litigation, discrimination and wrongful discharge cases, copyright infringement claims, and cases involving trade secrets, restrictive covenants and real estate. My litigation experience runs from pretrial investigation and early dispute resolution through every aspect of bench and jury trials as well as appeals.

My blog about copyright, trademark and related issues, LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION®, was recognized by the ABA Journal as one of the top 100 law-related blogs in the country in its first-ever listing in 2007.

Practice Areas
Professional Experience
ExperienceYears
Partner, Goetz Fitzpatrick LLP2008-Current
Education
SchoolFocusDegreeYear
Northwestern University School of LawJ.D.1988
Princeton UniversityEconomics, PoliticsB.A. (1985)1985
Honors: Certificate in Political Economy
Activities: Princeton Tower Club, Glee Club, Triangle Club, Theatre Intime, WPRB (manager of commercial radio sales), Princeton-Lawyers
Awards
AwardOrganizationYear
Peer Reviewed AVMartindale Hubbell Lawyers Directory1999
I am sure I am not the first, but I don't know anyone else who has received an AV rating as an associate.
Listed BiographyWho's Who in American Law
Listed BiographyWho's Who in America
Professional Affiliations
PositionYears
Internet and Computer Law Committee, New Jersey State Bar Association2003-Current
Internet Committee; Online Trademark Use Subcommittee, International Trademark Association2005-2007

Publications

Publications
TitlePublisherPublished
Hands off Blogs: Mandatory disclosure of payment to bloggers runs counter to free expressionNew Jersey Law Journal2008
"Ron Coleman called this over two years ago." -- Popehat.com blog
Legal Aspects of BloggingLawline.com2008
"Quite a terrific program for an audience that has little background in this arcane area of the law." - Robert (New York, NY) "Great Topic!!!" - Sarah (East Meadow, NY) "Good program. Too bad your average blogger is probably ignorant as to these issues (or simply doesn't care). Interesting program simply because of how many people, attorneys included, have never thought about this sort of thing." - Richard (Alexandria, VA) "Very good program. More scary information." - Lisa (Quincy, IL) "Great "hot" topic. Interesting, helpful overview." - Linda (Collinsville, CT) "Useful overview of key issues" - Jeffrey (New York, NY) "Interesting CLE on a cutting edge topic." - Nathaniel (Weston, FL) "It was interesting to hear both perspectives (blogger and potential plaintiff)." - Sarah (Topeka, KS) "Interesting, as I did not realize all the implications of law for blogging." - Robert (River Vale, NJ) "terrifically interesting and useful" - George (New York, NY) "I appreciate the time and effort of the presentor in making such a convenient and accessible CLE course." - Christina (Brooklyn, NY) "Very dynamic speaker. Timely topic." - Carolyne (Larchmont, NY) "Really enjoyed the course." - Deborah (Hillsborough, NJ) "Like this speaker." - John (Kennett, MO) "Great, interesting. Ronald Coleman is an engaging, knowledgeable speaker, obviously comfortable with the material." - Michael (Northfield, IL)
De Minimis Confusion on the Internet: Compounding the Error of Initial InterestJournal of Internet Law2007
Jewish law issues in legal practiceHalacha Conference of Agudath Israel of America2007
Legal research on the Internet for non-lawyersNational Business Institute2006
Seminar on Advanced Trademark Law Association of the Bar of the City of New York2005
Legislating Morality in the 21st Century Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy StudiesOctober, 2003
[T]he Court … says: “[W]e think that our laws and traditions in the past half century are of most relevance here. These references show an emerging awareness that liberty gives substantial protection to adult persons in deciding how to conduct their private lives in matters pertaining to sex.” Apart from the fact that such an “emerging awareness” does not establish a “fundamental right,” the statement is factually false. States continue to prosecute all sorts of crimes by adults “in matters pertaining to sex”: prostitution, adult incest, adultery, obscenity, and child pornography. Sodomy laws, too, have been enforced “in the past half century,” in which there have been 134 reported cases involving prosecutions for consensual, adult, homosexual sodomy. In relying, for evidence of an “emerging recognition,” upon the American Law Institute’s 1955 recommendation not to criminalize “‘consensual sexual relations conducted in private,’ ” ante, at 11, the Court ignores the fact that this recommendation was “a point of resistance in most of the states that considered adopting the Model Penal Code.”
Managing Risk: Litigation Prophylaxis in High-Tech AgreementsNJSBA Business Law Symposium (ICLE)2003
Online Auction Sites and Trademark Infringement LiabilityRecord of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York2003
Attacking Counterfeiting in the 21st CenturyNew York Intellectual Property Association2002
Depositions and Wrongful Profits in Infringement Cases: Cornering Your Prey with Rule 30(b)(6)Mondaq.com2002
Hacker with a White HatMealey's Cyber Tech Litigation2001
New York's Declaratory Judgment Insurance TrapCorporateIntelligence.com2001
The ABA Legal Guide for Small BusinessAmerican Bar Association2000
Trademark rights vs. free speechInternational Trademark Association2000
"Responses to Complaints," Business and Commercial Litigation in the Federal CourtsWest Group / American Bar Association1998
"Chapter 6, inclusive of sample forms, offers seventy-three pages which painstakingly examines and discusses Motions to Dismiss, other Rule 12 alternative responses to a Complaint as well as strategic considerations in the form and substance of the factual averment responses and affirmative defenses. My recommendation of the text arises from its thoroughness and comprehensiveness. Civil Procedure class in law school lacked the precision and clarity which this Chapter presents in defining and explaining the multiplicity of issues associated with Motions to Dismiss, Answer strategies, affirmative defenses, Cross-claims and Counterclaims in a practice pointer format." http://www.wvbar.org/barinfo/lawyer/1999/oct99/bonanza.htm
Prudential Standing: Who is "any person" under the Lanham Act?Mondaq.com1998
The ABA Guide to Consumer LawAmerican Bar Association1998
Court Nixes Fees for Fact WitnessesNational Law JournalSeptember 22, 1997
New York's Choice of Law Doctrine in Coverage CasesMealey's Litigation Report1997

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