Frank M. Coffin
How Judge Coffin rules, drawn from 28 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Coffin no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Coffin
Frank Morey Coffin was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, Judge Coffin received a commission on October 2, 1965. Judge Coffin assumed senior status on February 1, 1989 and served until death on December 7, 2009.
How Judge Coffin decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
For trademark protection, treats proof that consumers link a generic product name to one producer as insufficient to make that generic name registrable.
“No amount of purported proof that a generic term has acquired a secondary meaning associating it with a particular producer can transform that term into a registrable trademark.”
Procedural preferences
In Tang v. Rhode Island, Coffin remanded an attorney-fee award so the trial court could exercise the discretion its language suggested it may have overlooked.
“Because the court had a wide range of options available, we remand to ensure that the court has the opportunity to utilize its discretion fully.”
Cautions
In W.R. Grace & Co. v. EPA, he declined the challenge to the permit-review procedure before EPA had revised or rejected any Grace submission.
“Yet EPA has not revised or rejected a single Grace submission.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded for further action”
“we do not reach their merits and dismiss that portion of”
“Affirmed in part and remanded in part for further proceedings”
“We therefore remand so that the district court may conduct a hearing at which evidence concerning the circumstances surrounding the videotape may be presented.”
“Affirmed in part; reversed in part; and remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
“Judgment affirmed in part, reversed in part, and vacated and remanded for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.”
“counterclaim and remand for further proceedings”
A historical record
Judge Coffin no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled here. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.