Service Areas

Education

Wayne State University Law School, J.D.
Albion College, B.A.

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Courts of Appeal

Third Circuit
Sixth Circuit Court
Federal Circuit

U.S. District Court

Eastern District of Michigan
Western District of Michigan

A. Michael Palizzi

Principal

palizzi@millercanfield.com

Detroit
T: +1.313.496.7645
O: +1.313.963.6420
F: +1.313.496.8454

A. Michael Palizzi is a commercial trial lawyer and business counselor. He heads the firm’s Intellectual Propery Group, and is co-chair of the IP Litigation Section. He specializes in complex commercial litigation, intellectual property counseling and litigation, and commercial contract disputes. Representative cases include patent and trademark infringement, counterfeiting, unfair competition, non-compete, trade secret and securities disputes. Michael also regularly represents OEM and "Tier" automotive suppliers, with considerable experience negotiating supplier contracts and litigating issues arising out of such contracts.

In addition to litigation, he also serves as chief outside counsel for a number of local and international companies, assisting them in a wide variety of legal and business matters. His clients include publicly traded and privately held companies in a wide range of industries.

“I strive to provide exceptional legal counsel combined with good business judgment. I am responsive, and I vigorously pursue my clients' interests.”
A. Michael Palizzi

Experience

Michael has significant experience handling litigation matters before several Federal District Courts, U.S. Courts of Appeals, Michigan Circuit Courts and the Michigan Court of Appeals. He also has litigated matters before the American Arbitration Association, the New York Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. In addition, he regularly counsels clients on various intellectual property matters, including trademark procurement and protection, licensing, brand management, trade secret protection, and the implementation of anti-counterfeiting measures.

Representative Matters

Media and Marketing Services Company Antitrust Action
Trial counsel for Valassis Communications, Inc. in its legal battle with News America, Inc., a part of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation. Obtained $300 million jury verdict after an eight-week trial in July 2009, the eighth-largest jury verdict in the United States in 2009. As part of a comprehensive settlement--reached three days before the parties were scheduled to begin a second jury trial in Federal Court in Detroit--News America agreed to pay Valassis $500 million and enter into a 10-year shared mail distribution agreement with Valassis. Valassis Communications, Inc. v News America Inc., Case No. 07-706645 (Wayne County Circuit Court 2007); Valassis Communications, Inc. v News America Inc., Case No. 2:06-cv-10240 (Eastern District of Michigan 2006); Valassis Communications, Inc. v News America Inc., Case No. BC367743, (Los Angeles County Superior Court, California 2007).
Commercial Jetliner Manufacturer Trademark Case
Helped Boeing enforce its trademark rights against an adult entertainment company that was using Boeing’s trademark. The Boeing Company v Top Flight Entertainment, Ltd, et al. (Eastern District of Michigan Case No. 98-722262).
Global Beverage Manufacturer Trademark and Counterfeiting Investigation
Helped the owner of one of the best-known and valuable trademarks in the world investigate and bring federal criminal charges and civil litigation against a counterfeiting ring. The Coca-Cola Company v Cecil D. St. Pierre, et al. (Eastern District of Michigan case no 08-14338).

Reported + Published Decisions

American Seating Co. v USSC Group, Inc., Slip Copy, 2006 WL 2472196, (W.D.Mich., August 24, 2006) (No. 01-00578)

PHD Michigan, L.L.C. v Outfitters Ass'n of America, Slip Copy, 2006 WL 2042515, RICO Bus.Disp.Guide 11,120, (E.D.Mich., July 20, 2006) (No. 04-73964)

American Seating Co. v USSC Group, Inc., 2006 WL 839093, (W.D.Mich., March 27, 2006) (No. 01-00578)

Royal Ins. Co. of America v Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd., 408 F.Supp.2d 415, 2005 A.M.C. 2820, (E.D.Mich., September 29, 2005) (No. 03-72574)

Jewish War Veterans' Memorial Home Ass'n v Jewish War Veterans of U.S., 376 F.Supp.2d 743, (E.D.Mich., June 30, 2005) (No. Civ. 03-40136)

Jewish War Veterans' Memorial Home Ass'n v Jewish War Veterans of U.S., 311 F.Supp.2d 600 (E.D.Mich. Mar 30, 2004) (NO. CIV. 03-40136)

Melea Limited v Quality Models Ltd., 345 F.Supp.2d 743 (E.D.Mich. Nov 12, 2004) (NO. CIV. 03-71338)

Melea Ltd. v Quality Models Ltd., 274 F.Supp.2d 909 (E.D.Mich. Jul 30, 2002) (No. CIV.A. 03-71338)

Gateway 2000, Inc. v Livak, 19 F.Supp.2d 748 (E.D.Mich. Aug 28, 1998) (No. CIV. A 98-72034)

Gateway 2000, Inc v Kelley, 9 F.Supp.2d 790 (E.D.Mich. Jul 06, 1998) (No. CIV. A. 98-71746)

Professional Activities

Federal Bar Association, Complex Litigation Committee Co-Chair
American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Litigation Committee
State Bar of Michigan
Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association

Honors + Awards

Best Lawyers in America, Litigation-Intellectual Property Law 2010-present
Benchmark Litigation, Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, 2010
Michigan Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2009-present
Dbusiness Top Lawyers, Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property Law, 2012

Publications

"Government Acts to Curb Knockoffs and Counterfeits," Hot Points, Fall 2005

"The Current (and Confusing) State of the Doctrine of Initial Interest Confusion," American Bar Association Intellectual Property Litigation Journal, Spring, 2004

Niesig v Team I, Interpreting ex parte Communication with Corporate Employees," 38 Wayne Law Review 327, Fall, 1991

Speeches

"Tech Talk," Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber, Investepreneur Forum, Birmingham, Michigan, November 16, 2010

Guest speaker on "Due Process," an award-winning television program aired throughout Southeastern Michigan on NBC affiliate, WDIV. Segment topic: "Securities Fraud" January 2004; March 2008

"Optimize Your Litigation Position (Risk Assessment, Third-party Relations, and ADR)" sponsored by Miller Canfield, Troy, Michigan, 4/14/98