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  • Jury Selection: Strategy and Science, 2nd Edition

Robert M. Kalec

Bob Kalec is an accomplished trial and appellate attorney who has tried complex civil and criminal matters in both federal and state courts throughout the United States. In the civil area, he has represented parties in a wide range of commercial and non-commercial cases, including contract litigation, insurance coverage and re-insurance suits, deceptive business practices and unfair competition cases, franchisor/franchisee litigation, partnership dissolution actions, federal and state government contract disputes, securities fraud actions, patent, copyright and trademark infringement cases, insurance and bank fraud litigation, employment discrimination claims, environmental litigation, product liability, industrial accidents and medical malpractice cases.

Bob’s criminal practice involves white collar criminal defense as well as traditional criminal cases in both federal and state courts. He has represented individuals or corporations charged with federal racketeering violations, mail and wire fraud, federal and state false claims, public corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, embezzlement, bank fraud, health care fraud, narcotics violations, environmental crimes, bank robbery, firearms violations, attempted murder and murder. He has also represented individuals and corporations in asset forfeiture cases.

Bob’s background includes a distinctive combination of private and public practice. He began his career in Washington, D.C., where he primarily handled commercial and federal government contract litigation. In 1982, he became a trial attorney for the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice where he served as the lead or supervising trial attorney on hundreds of complex civil suits brought against the United States. He also served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan where he handled national and international conspiracy cases as a member of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Representative Matters

  • Represented the largest Taiwanese manufacturer of aftermarket collision repair parts in a trademark lawsuit brought by General Motors Corporation. The U.S. Court of Appeals dismissed all claims and our client prevailed.
  • U.S. v. KaKos, 483 F.3d 441 (6th Cir. 2007)
  • General Motors v. Keystone Automotive Industries, 453 F.3d 351 (6th Cir. 2006)
  • Teleflex Inc. v. KSR International, 298 F.Supp 2d 581 (E.D.MI. 2003)
  • Aioi Seiki, Inc. v. JIT Automation, Inc., 11 F.Supp. 2d 950 (E.D. Mich. 1998)
  • Allendale Mutual Insurance Co. v. Bull Data Systems, Inc., 32 F.3d 1175 (7th Cir. 1994)
  • Allendale Mutual Insurance Co. v. Bull Data Systems, Inc., 152 F.R.D. 132 (N.D. Ill. 1993)
  • Allendale Mutual Insurance Co. v. Bull Data Systems, Inc., 10 F.3d 425 (7th Cir. 1993)
  • Allendale Mutual Insurance Co. v. Bull Data Systems, Inc., 145 F.R.D. 84 (N.D. Ill. 1992)
  • United States v. Bailin, 977 F.2d 270 (7th Cir. 1992)
  • Ahmad v. Norfolk & Western Ry., 1992 WL 71775 (N.D. Ill. 1992)
  • Ahmad v. Norfolk & Western Ry. Co., 778 F.Supp. 956 (N.D. Ill. 1991)
  • United States v. Chambers, 715 F.Supp. 193 (E.D. Mich. 1989)
  • United States v. Giacalone, 853 F.2d 470 (6th Cir. 1988)
  • Vehimax International, LLC, et al v. Jui Li Enterprise Company, Ltd., et al, 2010-1 Trade Cas. (CCH) 76,965, C.D. Cal, No. CV 09-6437 SVW (Mar. 10, 2010).

Honors & Awards

Robert M. Kalec
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Super Lawyers
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  • Named Michigan “Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics® for Criminal Defense (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
  • Listed as one of the "Top Lawyers in 2010" by dbusiness Business Journal
  • AV-rated, Martindale Hubbell Law Directory. For over 100 years, Martindale Hubbell has published peer review ratings for attorneys.  An AV rating is a combination of the Legal Ability Rating (“A” from very high to preeminent) and the General Ethical Standards Rating (“V” very high).