Stephen M. Dorvee

Successfully represented a branded nutritional supplement company in a false advertising complaint against a generic drug company that made false comparative claims to the branded company’s products. Case settled prior to preliminary injunction hearing.

Successfully represented medical equipment manufacturer as plaintiff in a case against competitor alleging false advertising, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, defamation, and unfair competition. The firm obtained a preliminary injunction in this matter prohibiting the defendants from making various false representations about their competing product.

Successfully sued a former distributor of a client for trade dress infringement relating to coffee packaging. The case was resolved in three days.

Successfully represented a national pharmaceutical manufacturer in a false advertising, copyright, and unfair competition action against competitor and competitor’s parent company. The firm developed strategy in an emerging area of Lanham Act litigation and pharmaceutical claims, and used its industry knowledge to effectively develop evidence of the false advertising campaign described in the complaint.

Successfully represented public company in an action to restrain a competitor company from obtaining access to proprietary software algorithms and other trade secrets and proprietary know-how via the systematic recruitment and hiring of numerous key research and development engineers. Matter resolved by consent injunction during pendency of preliminary injunction proceedings.

Successfully represented publicly traded biomedical company in action to restrain disclosure of trade secrets and confidential know-how possessed by technical personnel who were taking employment in research and development laboratory of a competing company. Matter resolved by consent injunction during pendency of preliminary injunction proceedings.

Through litigation, successfully “reacquired” a Southern Rock songwriter’s copyrights in his compositions.

Successfully represented a branded pharmaceutical company as plaintiff against alleged generic competitor in case asserting false advertising and unfair competition claims.

Served as co-counsel on a trade dress infringement case, wherein a client sued a rogue former franchisee who had set up a competing, copycat restaurant. The case was favorably settled in favor of our client, who received a consent judgment precluding the former franchisee from operating restaurants using our client’s trade dress.

Successfully represented chemical company on charges that its president had stolen chemical formulations from his former employer to establish his business. Case settled favorably to our client after extensive discovery and motions proceedings.

Advised a group of restaurant franchisee owners, allowing them to adjust the requirements of a franchisor’s program that could have exposed the franchisees to potential liability for violations of rights of privacy, as well as false claims of endorsement, affiliation or sponsorship, among other concerns. AGG assisted the client in negotiating resolution of the dispute, short of litigation.

Successfully represented a company engaged in development and marketing of real-time digital ambulatory cardiac monitoring devices and systems in an action to restrain the misappropriation of trade secret software algorithms. The matter was resolved by settlement during pendency of preliminary injunction proceedings.

Successfully represented a large baking company in cases involving the theft of trade secret recipes. We obtained injunctive relief against two defendants and compensation from one.

Successfully defended a record label against claims of infringement relating to a “rap” recording.

Successfully represented quality control engineer in a lawsuit brought by engineer’s former employer for trade secret misappropriation and violation of non-disclosure agreement.  Plaintiff accused engineer of providing electronic files containing plaintiff’s trade secret formulas and production techniques to engineer’s employer, a foreign competitor. AGG obtained a dismissal of all claims against the engineer.

Successfully represented a major frozen food manufacturer in a false advertising dispute concerning misuse of the term “Original.” Settled on terms favorable to our client shortly after suit was filed.

Successfully represented a generic drug company on claims that it had falsely advertised its product as the generic equivalent of a marketed brand product. Case settled prior to trial.

Successfully sued one of the largest food companies in the nation for trademark infringement involving a line of frozen food products on behalf of a food distribution cooperative, receiving a very favorable settlement after a preliminary injunction hearing (but before the court’s decision).

Successfully represented a marine products manufacturer as plaintiff in a case against a competitor alleging false advertising, unfair competition, Georgia Deceptive Trade Practices Act violations, commercial disparagement, and tortious interference with contract and business relations. The firm obtained a preliminary injunction in this matter prohibiting the defendants from making various false representations about their competing product and the plaintiff’s product. The firm also obtained an order requiring the defendants to undertake corrective advertising and to issue a letter of retraction as additional preliminary remedies.

Successfully defended former employees of a major healthcare information company in a case involving claims of unfair competition, trade secret misappropriation, computer theft and related torts. This case was resolved on terms extremely favorable to our client after two weeks of trial and after defendants’ experts had been cross-examined by Mr. Dorvee.

Successfully represented a multinational manufacturer in litigating and successfully resolving complex theft of technology and trade secrets litigation. Case settled favorably to our client after mediation, during which our client’s expert delivered an opinion on the electronic linkages between the client’s engineering drawings and the drawings used by defendants.

Successfully represented a major software provider as plaintiff in a case involving trademark infringement and software piracy. Judgments obtained against defendants.

The first lawyer to bring an action under the Copyright Act and the Georgia Uniform Trade Secrets Act for computer software misappropriation, copyright infringement and related claims. Judgment obtained against all defendants, including chief executive of corporate defendant.

Successfully represented U.S. affiliate of major international electronics manufacturer in an action to restrain the misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential information concerning a system for delivering fiber-to-the-home broadband access for transmission of internet, voice telephone, TV/video, and other interactive services via the company’s proprietary technologies. The case involved disputes concerning the inventorship and derivation of the software and hardware components of a competitor’s network architecture. The litigation was resolved favorably to our client by the entry of a corrective preliminary injunction following contested hearing, and a permanent injunction obtained via subsequent negotiation and consent.

Involved in proceedings before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board opposing a trademark application on behalf of a restaurant franchise client. The trademark application was filed by a former franchisee, seeking to register an infringing trademark for use in a competing restaurant business.

Assisted large European company to obtain a multimillion dollar contract for a large aircraft manufacturer.

Successfully defended a large European antivirus software company against trademark infringement allegations.