Litigation Analytics

Litman v. Goldberg

Index No. 524343/2025 • NY Sup. Ct., Kings County • Count V: NY Civil Rights Law §§ 50-51
0
Patents Bearing
Litman's Name
$0M
Revenue Under
Litman's Name
0
Goldberg POA
Signatures
0
Emails in
Evidence
0
Admissions in
Goldberg's Answer
0
Consent
Documents

Email Volume by Month (2020 – 2025) iShows the dramatic increase in email activity conducted under Litman's name after the 6/14/2023 arbitration decision -- evidence of escalated unauthorized use.

Pre-Arbitration
Post-Arbitration (6/14/2023)
Email volume exploded after the 6/14/2023 arbitration decision, showing dramatically increased activity conducted under Litman's name.

Goldberg's Personal Acts Timeline iEach dot is a personal, volitional act by Goldberg (POA signature) or his subordinate Lafave (PTOL-85B). These establish direct causation for name misappropriation under NY CRL 51.

Goldberg POA Signature (16)
Lafave PTOL-85B Signature (18)
Key Date Marker
Each dot represents a personal act by Goldberg (signing a POA as Reg. 44126) or Lafave (signing PTOL-85B correspondence). All 16 POAs occurred after arbitration.

Revenue & Damages Breakdown iRevenue generated by NGM under Litman's name after the SOL cutoff. KFU alone accounts for 65% -- the commercial benefit element of the 51 claim.

Evidence Strength by Element iScores each element required under NY CRL 51 based on available evidence. Causation and Use of Name score highest due to Goldberg's own admissions and 16 POA signatures.

Document Count by Type iFull inventory of evidence documents by category. POA and PTOL-85B signatures are the most critical -- each is a separate personal act establishing Goldberg's direct role.

Case Timeline
6/15/2020
SOL Cutoff / Litman Disability Begins MILESTONE
All name use after this date is actionable under § 51
11/11/2020
Disability Approved, Goldberg Notified
Goldberg had actual knowledge of Litman's disability status
4/30/2021
Litman: "does not include the right to use my name" NOTICE
Express written denial of consent to name use
5/21/2021
Harkins: "he doesn't work here anymore"
Third-party confirmation Litman was no longer associated with the firm
Arbitration Decision
6/14/2023
Arbitration Decision TURNING POINT
Despite ruling, Goldberg continues and escalates use of Litman's name
6/19/2023
Goldberg Directs POA Filing 5 DAYS AFTER
First POA filing after arbitration — immediate escalation of name use
3/16/2023 – 1/17/2025
16 POAs Signed by Goldberg (Reg. 44126) CAUSATION
Each POA is a personal, volitional act causing Litman's name to appear on USPTO records
12/21/2023
BOMBSHELL: Goldberg Signs POA + Assignment Same Day KEY EVIDENCE
App 18/392,663 — Goldberg signed both the Power of Attorney and KFU assignment cover sheet on the same day, proving direct personal involvement in the full chain of name use
Post-SOL-Safe Period
7/21/2024
Post-SOL-Safe Cutoff MILESTONE
Acts after this date are strongest for statute of limitations arguments
1/17/2025
Most Recent Goldberg POA (Patent 12,303,254)
Final confirmed POA signature by Goldberg
4/16/2025
Most Recent Lafave PTOL-85B
Last confirmed correspondence bearing Litman's name, signed by Lafave under Goldberg's supervision
5/20/2025
Patent 12,303,254 Issued
Most recent patent issued bearing Litman as attorney of record
6/21/2025
Website Still Shows Litman as "PATENT ATTORNEY" ONGOING
nathlaw.com professionals page continued to display Litman's name commercially
Litigation Begins
7/21/2025
Lawsuit Filed FILED
Litman v. Goldberg, Index No. 524343/2025
7/23/2025
KNPC Patent Filed — Litman Name Dropped 2 DAYS LATER
First patent filed without Litman in correspondence — consciousness of guilt
9/5/2025
Litman Removed from Website
nathlaw.com professionals page no longer shows Litman — remediation after suit
12/5/2025
Counts I-IV Dismissed, Count V Survives COURT ORDER
Judge Maslow allows § 51 misappropriation claim to proceed
1/20/2026
Goldberg's Answer Filed ADMISSIONS
Admits Litman's name appeared on patent front pages (¶32) and NGM website (¶72) after 6/15/2020
Supervision Network — Goldberg's Chain of Control
Joshua B. Goldberg
Decision-Maker • Reg. No. 44126 • 16 POA Signatures
Lafave
Patent Prosecution
Correspondence
18 PTOL-85B Signatures
Martha Long
Client Communications
& Administration
19,000+ Client Emails
Howard Kline
Trademark
Correspondence
2,678 Trademark Emails
Karen Van Giezen
"The Pad"
Tracking System
Workflow Management