Thomas S. Biemer

Thomas S. Biemer represents his clients in complex commercial cases, handling matters in state and federal courts involving RICO, corporate governance, construction, ERISA, CERCLA, commercial real estate, patents, healthcare, class actions, trusts and estates and contract disputes. He also represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of alternative forums designed to expedite resolution and minimalize costs.

As Co-Chair of Dilworth Paxson’s litigation department, Mr. Biemer is responsible for over 50 attorneys in 6 offices practicing in state and federal courts in numerous jurisdictions.

Representative Experience

• Represented regional rail authority in dispute involving claims for design defects arising out of the reconstruction of an elevated rail structure. Claims exceed $50 million and involve complex issues of construction management and structural design.
• Represented multiple transportation authorities in CERCLA action seeking contribution recovery concerning PCBs at the Paoli railyard. Settled case on behalf of clients. Settlement was one of the ten largest commercial cases in the Commonwealth that year. 
• Represented national bank in trust matter regarding the retention of a closely held business in a family trust. Damages were in excess of $2 billion. Defense verdict obtained in Orphans’ Court and affirmed on appeal after a 15 day bench trial. 
• Represented investment advisor in defamation action brought by publicly-traded company. Damages were in excess of $90 million. Defense verdict obtained after a 5 week jury trial. 
• Represented document solution company against claims of patent infringement relating to the centralized collection of geographically distributed clinical information in the pharmaceutical industry. Award of non-infringement in binding arbitration from the American Arbitration Association. 
• Represented a software company in a matter that involved the patentability of business methods, resulting in an extension of patent protection to industries and technologies not previously covered. 
• Represented 53 area hospitals and other medical care providers in a litigation matter and recovered over $40 million on the providers' behalf. This was the first insolvency of a major HMO in America. 
• Represented financial associations challenging lead ordinances attempting to regulate subprime lending market in Philadelphia. Represented on a national level against similar challenges in Ohio, Georgia, and California. Also successfully guided clients, AFSA and Maryland mortgage brokers to obtaining a permanent injunction to prevent the enforcement of a Montgomery County, Maryland lending bill. 
• Represented large, regional healthcare insurer in a series of class actions brought by members and beneficiaries of ERISA plans. The class action claims involved the calculation of the family deductible, the negotiation of discounts regarding co-insurance, coverage for Viagra, subrogation rights, and Medicare supplemental benefits. 
• Represented plaintiffs in the squeeze-out of a minority shareholder involving one of the largest closely-held corporations in the Northeast. Successfully obtained a nine-figure settlement. 
• Represented patent owner on claims of patent infringement involving bases for the slot machine industry. Settled on favorable terms. 
• Represented mobile phone provider in patent infringement case arising out of pre-paid cell phone technology. 
• Represented technology company as amicus on case pending en banc in the Federal Circuit involving broad issues relating to patentable subject matter. One of two amici selected to participate in oral argument. 
• Represented investment company in Blackberry patent litigation in District Court in Virginia and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Tasked with evaluating and monitoring the litigation for a concerned client. 
• Represented multi-national corporation in multiple domain name disputes under the ICANN Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy involving the enforcement of the client’s brand name against domestic and international cyber-squatters. All matters resulted in ruling for client. 
• Represented amicus curiae in case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. This matter involved the shifting of the burden of proof for willfulness in a patent infringement case. The brief of amicus was cited by Judge Dyk in his dissent, which has been referenced in many recent legal publications involving the issue of willfulness in patent infringement cases. 
• Represent amici curiae in case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. This matter involves issues relating to the duty to exercise due care when an alleged infringer is placed on notice of a patent owner’s rights.

Professional & Community Activities

• General Counsel and Board of Director, Urban League of Philadelphia
• Instructor, University of Texas, Constitutional Law and Government, 1991 
• Captain, U.S. Army Air Defense, 1984 – 1992 (Platoon Leader and Battery Executive Officer for a Patriot Missile Air Defense Battery) 
   

Speeches & Presentations

• Served as mediator in complex intellectual property and contract disputes
• Thomas S. Biemer Speaks at Patent Law Symposium
  

• Dilworth Paxson Names New Co-Chair to the Firm's Litigation Department

• Thomas S. Biemer Speaks at Patent Law Symposium