While it is convenient to think of different areas of the law as self-contained units, in reality, the relevant facts and associated legal issues are almost always “messy” and entail potential claims and defenses touching on several disparate areas of law. For example, Chiacchio IP, LLC currently represents a writer pursuing vindication of her copyright ownership. But while the case began as strictly a “copyright case,” the defendants subsequently asserted counterclaims for breach of contract, breach of confidentiality agreement, conversion (i.e., civil theft), and fraudulent concealment. Further, after conducting some factual investigation, the Firm’s client later amended the Complaint to add claims for fraudulent inducement, fraudulent concealment, and promissory estoppel. In a similar vein, Chiacchio IP, LLC represents a plaintiff in what might, at first blush, be characterized as a “trade secret misappropriation case.” But the pre-suit investigation and analysis quickly revealed that additional claims were appropriate, for conversion, invasion of privacy, and violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (referred to colloquially as an “anti-hacking statute”). The defendant in that case, moreover, has counterclaimed for breach of contract and conversion. The point is that, often-times, intellectual property disputes quickly evolve to implicate other areas of the law as well. Retaining litigation counsel with significant experience litigating claims and defenses outside of the intellectual property space as well can, therefore, be of immense value.
In addition to his intellectual property litigation experience, Chiacchio IP’s Founder and Owner Ted Chiacchio has significant experience litigating other types of matters as well. Ted has played integral roles in litigating a wide range of commercial and other disputes with millions of dollars at stake. For a representative list of such matters, please see the Representative Matters tab. Ted has extensive experience litigating matters involving claims for breach of contract, conversion, invasion of privacy, breach of post-nuptial agreement, reimbursement for overpaid property taxes, tortious interference with business opportunities, tortious interference with contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent inducement, fraudulent concealment, promissory estoppel, and a vast range of other claims. This additional litigation experience outside of the intellectual property sphere inures to Ted’s clients’ benefit daily and, in the vast majority of instances, differentiates Ted from counsel representing his clients’ adversaries.