Paul J. Ripp - Partner

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Biography

Paul J. Ripp is a partner at Williams Montgomery & John Ltd. and a member of the firm's commercial litigation and intellectual property practice groups. He focuses his practice on technology issues that arise in litigation involving contract, intellectual property, construction and negligence claims.

Mr. Ripp litigates a variety of patent, trademark and copyright cases before state and federal courts and arbitration panels, and provides advice regarding threatened litigation and settlement. Mr. Ripp represents product manufacturers such as Hendrickson International Corporation as both plaintiffs and defendants in disputes involving mechanical utility patents and other patent issues. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

In his general commercial litigation practice, Mr. Ripp works with numerous clients and experts in a wide range of industries to develop a thorough understanding of technical and financial issues and to plan litigation strategy. His experience includes arbitrations and trials of disputes involving power plant construction, turbine supply contracts and securities-related professional malpractice.

Mr. Ripp previously worked as an engineer in the nuclear power industry with a focus on instrumentation and controls. His training and experience as a mechanical engineer provide him with a unique ability to evaluate complex technical issues and industrial standards and practices.

Education/Bar Admissions

Mr. Ripp received a B.S. in mechanical engineering in 1989, a B.A. in economics in 1990, and an M.S. in mechanical engineering in 1992 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received his J.D. in 2003 from The University of Chicago Law School.

Mr. Ripp was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2003, is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, and has been admitted to the following federal and appellate courts:

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

Professional Activities

Mr. Ripp is active in numerous professional and civic organizations, including:

  • Chicago Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Lawyer's Club of Chicago
  • American Intellectual Property Association
  • Richard Linn Inn of Court

He also is an active participant in industry-organized conferences on current litigation issues.

      

Representative Matters

  • Boler v. ArvinMeritor

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Obtained favorable settlement and licensing agreement on behalf of client Boler following motion for summary judgment. The client, an innovator in the suspension systems industry, brought this patent infringement lawsuit against industry competitor ArvinMeritor.

  • Boston Scientific Corp. v. Cordis Corp.

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 02-1474
    Represented defendant in patent litigation relating to medical devices used to treat aneurysms. Case settled shortly before trial.

  • Molon Motors, Inc. v. Merkle-Korff Industries, Inc.

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, No 04-5134
    Represented defendant in patent litigation involving compact DC-powered gear motors for specialized applications. Case settled following motion for summary judgment of invalidity.

  • Nielsen Media Research, Inc. v. Truck Ads, LLC

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Currently defending mobile advertising startup Truck Ads, LLC against copyright infringement claims based on marketing territory maps. Cross-motions for summary judgment are pending.

  • Sears Roebuck and Co. v. Duke-Weeks Realty Limited Partnership, et al.

    Circuit Court of Will County, Ill.
    Settled multimillion-dollar lawsuit brought against client Duke-Weeks Realty involving a commercial warehouse owned by the client. Plaintiff tenant alleged roof collapse was caused by faulty construction, design and failure to maintain.