Hector D. Ruiz

Partner

E: [email protected]

P: (973) 757-1019

F: (973) 757-1090

Hector Daniel Ruiz, a partner in the firm, concentrates his practice on federal and complex commercial litigation. Mr. Ruiz has represented national and regional clients across a wide spectrum of industries, including pharmaceutical, healthcare, banking, construction, manufacturing and information systems.  He also represents clients as local counsel in significant intellectual property disputes, including patent claims, trademark, unfair competition and copyright.

Mr. Ruiz previously served as a law clerk to former Chief Judge Jose L. Linares of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Mr. Ruiz has substantial experience practicing in New Jersey federal and state courts.  He has also been an active member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, including serving as member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Civil Practice Committee, and he has served on the Board of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, including recently serving as President of the Association.

  • Represents a leading provider of aerial imagery and data analytics as New Jersey litigation counsel in patent infringement action in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey, resulting in a jury award of $125 million in favor of our client
  • Represents direct response marketing company in patent infringement litigations as New Jersey litigation counsel
  • Represents major pharmaceutical companies in patent infringement matters as New Jersey litigation counsel
  • Represented a major pharmaceutical company as local counsel in federal district court in connection with defense of shareholder class action stemming from a merger
  • Represented brand manufacturer and licensing partner in their pursuit of patent infringement damages against generic drug makers in which plaintiffs sought damages resulting from “at-risk” launches, reaching a $2.15 billion settlement after the jury rejected arguments by the companies that the patent covered an obvious variation of earlier patented compounds
  • Represented water treatment plant in discrimination claim by former employee in section 1983 and NJLAD action
  • Represented health insurance company in putative class action litigation involving RICO, ERISA, and various state fraud and unjust enrichment claims
  • Represented supplier of games and toys in false advertising and unfair competition action under the Lanham Act
  • Represented a major pharmaceutical company as local counsel in federal court in connection with breach of alleged long-term supply contract
  • Represented a manufacturer of steel products used in the oil industry in commercial action in federal court, to a successful resolution
  • Represented a chemical manufacturer in federal action concerning dispute regarding complex long-term contract, which resolved satisfactorily
  • Represented an equipment leasing and financing company in a contract dispute brought in federal court concerning cleaning services contract for major national retail chain, to a successful resolution
  • Represented a bank in state court defamation action by credit card holder, to a successful resolution
  • Adapt Pharma Operations Ltd. v. Teva Pharm. USA, Inc., 2020 WL 3428078 (D.N.J. June 22, 2020)
  • Cochlear Ltd. v. Oticon Med. AB, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 183851 (D.N.J. Oct. 26, 2018)
  • Impax Labs., Inc. v. Actavis Labs. FL, Inc., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38623 (D.N.J. Apr. 18, 2018)
  • Telebrands Corp. v. Mopnado, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10671, 2016 WL 368166 (D.N.J. Jan. 12, 2016)
  • Bayer Pharma AG v. Watson Labs., Inc., 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75071, 2014 WL 2516412 (D.N.J. June 2, 2014)
  • Int’l Playthings LLC v. Toy Teck Ltd., LLC, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 186779 (D.N.J. July 23, 2013)
  • JPC Merger Sub LLC v. Baker Eng’g & Risk Consultants, Inc., 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 84979, 2013 WL 3097106 (D.N.J. June 18, 2013)
  • Zhejiang Rongyao Chem. Co. v. Pfizer Inc., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 137136, 78 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (Callaghan) 635, 2012 WL 4442725 (D.N.J. 2012)
  • McGroder v. Lowe’s Home Ctrs., Inc., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109684, 2011 WL 4498779 (W.D.N.Y. Sept. 25, 2011)
  • Tech. Research Inst. v. LG Corp., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 137133, 2012 WL 4469383 (D.N.J. Sept. 25, 2012)
  • McLeod v. Lowe’s Home Improvement, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60799, 2011 WL 2200757 (N.D.N.Y June 6, 2011)
  • McLeod v. Lowe’s Home Improvement, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 114702, 2010 WL 4366901 (N.D.N.Y Oct. 28, 2010)
  • LLDVF, L.P. v. Dinicola, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 82078, Fed. Sec. L. Rep. (CCH) P95,839, 2010 WL 3210613 (D.N.J. Aug. 12, 2010)
  • Nelson v. Xacta 3000, Inc., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109580, 2009 WL 4119176 (D.N.J. Nov. 23, 2009)
  • Member, Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Member, Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
  • Member, The John C. Lifland American Inn of Court – American Inns of Court (2021-Present)
  • Immediate Past-Regional President, Hispanic National Bar Association (Region III-New Jersey) (September 2020-2023)
  • Member, New Jersey State Bar Association Judicial Administration Committee (2019-2020 and 2020-2021 terms)
  • Co-Chair of the 11th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference hosted by Prudential and the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (February 11, 2021)
  • Panelist on CLE panel “Protecting Your Brand: Strategies for Handling Social Media Abuse” where Hector shared Intellectual Property insights during the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey’s 10th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference on February 5, 2019, held at Prudential’s headquarters in Newark, New Jersey (February 2020)
  • Deputy Regional President, Hispanic National Bar Association (Region III) (2014- 2015, 2018-2020); Bylaws Committee Chair (National) (2014-2015)
  • Past President of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (2017-18). Before serving as HBA-NJ President, Hector served on the Association’s Executive Board for two years, preceded by various roles on the HBA-NJ Board (2011-2017)
  • Recipient, Professional Lawyer of the Year Award, New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in Law (2019)
  • Recipient of the Defensores de la Justicia Award, Latin American Law Students Alliance at Rutgers Law School, 16th Annual Defensores de la Justicia Banquet (March 2019)
  • Commissioner, New Jersey Commission on Puerto Rico Relief (2018-2019)
  • Panelist, Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) Corporate Counsel Conference, held March 16-19, 2016, in Las Vegas, NV. Ruiz and his co-panelists presented on “Can You Afford It? Health and Life Sciences Product Development and Prescription Drug Pricing.” The discussion focused on “how the health and life sciences industry works to develop and protect their products/offerings, including successful partnering in drug development and protection of associated intellectual property (March 2016)
  • Presented on CLE program titled “Practicing Before the District Court and the Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey: Federal Practice for the State Court Practitioner,” held at the U.S. District Court in Newark, NJ (November 2015)
  • Member, New Jersey Supreme Court Civil Practice Committee (2014-2016 term)
  • Selected for the 2014 Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy
  • International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy (2015)
  • Member of Intellectual Property Department Named Litigation Department of the Year by New Jersey Law Journal (April 2014)
  • Member, Third Circuit Merit Selection Committee for United States Bankruptcy Court Judgeships (2014, 2015)
  • Member, Union County College Paralegal Studies Advisory Committee (2015-2016)
  • Member, The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey Historical Society