Attorney
Additional Services
Education
Georgetown University, J.D., 1990
Baylor University, B.A., 1987
Bar Admissions
Ohio Bar
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Suzanne Bretz Blum Of Counsel
Contact Information
- Area of Focus
- Education
Georgetown University, J.D., 1990
Baylor University, B.A., 1987
- Bar Admissions
Ohio Bar
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Biography
Suzanne practices primarily in business competition, intellectual property, inheritance controversy/probate and contract law. She litigates cases involving unfair competition, trade secrets misappropriation, noncompete agreements, trust and estate contests, and trademark and copyright infringement. Armed with the insights gained from litigating unfair competition and IP disputes, Suzanne assists clients in developing, registering and enforcing their trademarks and copyrights.
Suzanne has been selected to the Ohio Super Lawyers® list for Business Litigation (2019-2020 and 2022-2023).
- Biography
Suzanne practices primarily in business competition, intellectual property, inheritance controversy/probate and contract law. She litigates cases involving unfair competition, trade secrets misappropriation, noncompete agreements, trust and estate contests, and trademark and copyright infringement. Armed with the insights gained from litigating unfair competition and IP disputes, Suzanne assists clients in developing, registering and enforcing their trademarks and copyrights.
Suzanne has been selected to the Ohio Super Lawyers® list for Business Litigation (2019-2020 and 2022-2023). - Professional & Civic Activities
- Eighth District Judicial Conference, Life Member
- Cleveland Intellectual Property Lawyers Association, Member
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Foundation Fellow, Former Chair of the Committee on Homelessness
- Ohio Women's Bar Association, Member
- Ohio State Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- Shaker Heights, Juvenile Diversion Program, Former Magistrate, 1998-2007
- Articles & Presentations
- “Two Recent IP Rulings Have Far Reaching Consequences,” Intellectual Property, Brouse McDowell Client Alert (April 30, 2020)
- “Managing the Social Enterprise: Legal and Regulatory Issues,” Co-speaker with Brian Merklin, Cleveland Life Institute Virtual Presentation (April 15, 2020)
- "Court sets a copyright course correction." Crain's Cleveland Business (January 07, 2020)
- "Copyright Course Correction of the Year," Brouse McDowell Client Alert (December 31, 2019)
- “Copyright in Music and Worship,” Guest Lecturer, Sacred Music Skills Course, Oberlin College and Conservatory (April 2019)
- "Guard your mark: How to choose strong trademarks and protect them," Smart Business, Akron/Canton (April 2019)
- "Tips on Trademark Clearance," Brouse McDowell Update (April 2019)
- "Computer-Aided Design Does Not Make You a Copyright Cad," Crain’s Cleveland Business (July 17, 2017)
- "Defeating Copyright Infringement Claims," Chapter 23 in Copyright Litigation Strategies, ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law (2017)
- "Rainmaking and Practical Business Development Strategies," Panelist, 2015 Ohio Women's Bar Foundation Leadership Institute (September 2015)
- “2012 Trademark Law – A Moving Target,” Presenter, NAMWOLF Annual Meeting (October 15, 2012)
- "Insurance Coverage and Intellectual Property: Is the Banana Covered?" The Federal Lawyer (June 2012)
- “Data Breaches Happen-Prepare to Minimize the Loss,” Presenter, Great Lakes Higher Education Law Symposium (February 2, 2010)
- "Non-Compete Agreements Find Growing Role," Crain’s Cleveland Business (July 1996)
- "Ohio Tortious Interference Law and The Role of Privilege and Competition," co-author, 18 University of Dayton Law Review 635 (1993)
- "Why Mandatory Pro Bono is a Bad Idea," 3 Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics, 623 (1990)
- Representative Engagements
- Michael Grassi and CFOM, Inc. v. John Grassi and Alotech Limited, LLC, Case No. 1:18-CV-2619, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio ‒ Prevailed on multiple counts in summary judgment, including declaratory judgment on ownership of trade secret and patented technology, and secured unanimous jury defense verdict on two remaining counts after a one week trial on breach of contract and promissory estoppel. See Grassi, et al. v. Grassi et al., 2020 WL 2335427 (N.D. OH 5/11/2020).
- Olivia, et al. v. Airbus Americas, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:19-cv-01701, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio ‒ Achieved dismissal based on lack of jurisdiction for airline client Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico, LLC in removed state case involving claims of product liability, negligence and breach of warranty. See Olivia v. Airbus Americas, Inc., 2019 WL 5395312 (N.D. Ohio 10/22/2019) and 2019 WL 6051551 (N.D. Ohio 11/14/2019).
- Tomas Melian, Trustee v. Juliussen, et al., Case No. CV-2018-10-4227, Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County, Ohio ‒ Represented Trustee in partition action which led to an amicable resolution of an estate dispute.
- Alotech Limited LLC vs. Kayla Barnes, et al, Case No. CV-12-791234, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County, Ohio ‒ achieved a multi-million dollar summary judgment, a favorable trial verdict, default judgments and a settlement as first-chair counsel for a development and manufacturing company in a civil theft and unjust enrichment action against multiple defendants.
- Airgas USA, LLC vs. Glen’s, LLC, Case No. CV-17- 888455, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County, Ohio ‒ secured a dismissal for lack of jurisdiction, insufficient service and improper venue for an out-of-state compressed gas retail client sued by a gas supplier for breach of contract.
- Robert L. Stark Enterprises, Inc., et al. v. Neptune Design Group, LLC, Case No. 1:16CV264, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio ‒ litigated copyright matter to successful settlement for developer and franchisee after achieving a summary judgment dismissal of multiple claims concerning infringement of architectural plans, including claimed violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
- Brennan, et al. v. Hawthorn/PNC Bank, et al, Case No. 2012 ADV 179217, Cuyahoga County Probate Court, Cuyahoga County, Ohio ‒ represented beneficiary in dispute over administration of multi-million dollar trust.
- Frischkorn v. Air Methods Corp., Case No. CV-13801184, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County, Ohio ‒ represented air carrier in contract dispute concerning emergency medical air transport.
- All Metal Sales, Inc. v. All Metal Source, LLC, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25019, U.S. Dist. Ct., Northern District of Ohio ‒ represented defendant in trademark infringement action alleging unfair competition, violation of the Lanham Act, and violation of the Ohio Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
- Gorilla Productions, Inc. v. Wig-Out Records, et al, CV-10-720736, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas ‒ secured a dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction in a defamation action against a Seattle-based band and its members for statements made on a website owned and managed by one of the band members.
- OmniAmerica Group v. Street Gold Records, 916 F.Supp. 672 (N.D. Ohio 1996) ‒ Secured an injunction on behalf of a media company that owned a number of radio stations to bar a competitor’s infringing use of the mark “Moondog Coronation Ball.”
- Distinctions
- Ohio Super Lawyers® through a peer- and achievement-based review conducted by the research team at Super Lawyers, a service of Thomson Reuters legal division — 2019-2020, 2022-2023
- Winner of the Democratic Primary for Judge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas — 2006
- Woman of Professional Excellence, YWCA — 1997
- Humanitarian Award, Georgetown University Law Center
- News
December 29, 202224 Brouse Attorneys Named 2023 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
December 30, 202130 Brouse Attorneys Named 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
June 30, 2020Three Attorneys Named to The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland's 2020 "Partners in Justice"
December 09, 201927 Brouse McDowell Attorneys named 2020 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
December 05, 201833 Brouse McDowell Attorneys named 2019 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
July 25, 2018Ohio-based Law Firms Brouse McDowell and Thacker Robinson Zinz Announce Plans to Join Together
- Client Advisories
April 30, 2020IP Alert: Two Recent IP Rulings Have Far-Reaching Consequences
December 31, 2019IP Alert: Copyright Course Correction of the Year
- Articles
January 07, 2020Court Sets a Copyright Course Correction
April 30, 2019Trademark Clearance Tips
April 01, 2019Guard your mark: How to choose strong trademarks and protect them
July 17, 2017Computer-aided design does not make you a copyright cad
May 01, 2017Copyright Litigation Strategies, "Defeating Copyright Infringement Claims"