John Karl Buche

John Karl Buche is a founding partner of Buche & Associates, P.C. His practice focuses on civil trial law, business law, and protecting intellectual property for clients in Southern California and Texas.

Mr. Buche is experienced with trial and litigation of a variety of civil matters involving contract disputes, fraud, personal injuries, and intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, unfair competition, and covenants not to compete.

Mr. Buche is experienced with litigation in state courts, federal courts throughout the United States, appellate and arbitration settings. In addition to handling countless litigation matters over the course of his practice, Mr. Buche has enjoyed numerous successes in his litigation practice including:

• Lead counsel for plaintiff with co-counsel, Damian LaCroix. Obtained a judgment for client against Starbucks for breach of contract on a commercial lease, plus attorney fees and costs, Joshi v. Starbucks®, Eastern District of California.
• Patent litigation counsel for plaintiff in Peavey Electronics v. Behringer International, et al., U.S. District Court of New Jersey (Newark), relating to feedback detecting systems and electronic circuits in music amplifiers
• Lead counsel for defendant in medical device and method patent litigation, Tyco Healthcare Group, L.P. v. Total Vein Solutions, LLC, et.al., Northern District of California (San Francisco)
• Lead counsel, represented plaintiff in trademark dispute in the flooring industry, obtained successful confidential settlement, Adame v. CCA Global, et al., Southern District of California (San Diego).
• After filing a declaratory judgment to protect threatened trademark and advertising rights relating to specialized garments, obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of Plaintiffs, C-Saw Enterprises, LLC d/b/a Spare Soles v. Funktional Enterprises, LLC, et al., Southern District of California (San Diego).
• Lead counsel representing plaintiff in declaratory judgment action concerning a gaming patent, Brunn Consulting v. New Vision Gaming, et al., Southern District of California (San Diego), obtained confidential settlement.
• Lead counsel for plaintiff in breach of contract action relating to supply of manufactured goods, obtained successful settlement on behalf of plaintiff against WD-40, C2D, Inc. v. WD-40, Inc., Superior Court of San Diego County.
• Lead counsel for semiconductor manufacturer defendants in Central District of California, defending patent infringement allegations. Obtained settlement with zero damages paid by manufacturers to plaintiffs, or to 3rd party claimants, and obtained a royalty free license, Opto Diode Corporation v. Advanced Photonix, Inc., Infratech, Inc., Central District of California (Los Angeles)
• Lead counsel on copyright infringement matter representing plaintiff, relating to internet forums, successful confidential settlement, Pi Speakers v. Audio Asylum, Southern District of California (San Diego).
• Lead counsel for plaintiff in trademark infringement and counterfeiting case for patented material handling carts, successful settlements obtained against international and national defendants, Dahl v. Music Industries Corp., et. al., Southern District of Texas (Houston).
• Lead counsel for defendant accused of medical device patent infringement, secured confidential settlements, Nova Ranger, Inc. v. Patterson Dental Supply, Inc., et.al., Southern District of California (San Diego).
• Lead counsel for plaintiffs in Declaratory Judgment trademark suit relating to pressure steam cleaning business, Sanitech v. Steamtech, Southern District of California (San Diego), successful settlement, previously represented plaintiff in ICANN proceeding and won.
• Successful confidential settlements on trademark infringement lawsuit between famous Hollywood and New York fashion retailers, Jordache Enterprises v. Dittos, Southern District of New York.
• Successful confidential settlements on trademark infringement lawsuit defending against an internationally known energy drink company, Red Bull® v. The Tavern on Gray, Southern District of Texas (Houston).
• Lead trial counsel in Akal Investments v. Vaishnavi Enterprises, Inc., 190th Dist. Court, Harris County—winning jury verdict for plaintiff of $1,125,000 on fraud and breach of an oral contract.
• Lead counsel for Defendants in a case relating to candle trade dress, SMI v. McCall's, Western District of Virginia, obtained consent judgment against plaintiffs and confidential settlement.
• Lead counsel representing defendant in case of alleged copyright and trade dress infringement for three-dimensional bells used in the motorcycle industry, successful settlement, Guardian v. Source, Southern District of California (San Diego).
• Lead counsel for defendant on Guzik v. Harnsberger, successful dismissal for Defendant of malicious prosecution claims using Anti-SLAPP statutes, and settlement of auxiliary issues, San Diego Superior Court.
• Lead counsel representing California defendant in a trademark infringement suit relating to the cosmetic industry, successful confidential settlement, Active Organics v. Natural Thoughts, Eastern District of Texas (Sherman).
• Lead counsel representing defendant in Pi Electronics v. Shaw Software, Inc., et. al., Zeroed damages, and had dismissed alleged $150,000,000 tortious interference and trade secret theft claims, District Court, Harris County, Texas.
• Lead trial counsel in Surgical Innovations, L.P. v. Global Orthopedics, Inc., et.al., defending attorney on legal malpractice and fiduciary breach allegations of over $200,000,000 in damages in connection with a medical device, Harris County, Texas, settled favorably.
• Lead trial counsel on 6250 Westpark, L.P. v. Chambers Enterprises, Inc. et.al., 55th District Court, Harris County, Texas—winning jury verdict for plaintiff on contract breach in commercial tenancy and zeroed original plaintiffs contract claim against ex-wife of famous professional athlete, Deion Sanders; won appeals through Texas Supreme Court. The verdict was affirmed in the Texas Supreme Court, after successful arguments in all appellate forums relating to the propriety of certain jury strikes under Batson.
• Successfully litigated a bad faith failure to pay an accidental death life insurance claim, recovering $100,000 for plaintiff.
• Lead trial counsel in a case of theft of misappropriation of confidential information between rival physicians. Following Mr. Buche's selection of the jury and cross examination of the opponent's expert, he obtained a $225,000 settlement from the original plaintiff, on a counterclaim filed against the original plaintiff, Harold Adams v. Medical Anesthesia Associates, L.L.P., 190th Dist. Court, Harris County, Texas.
• Lead trial counsel winning a jury verdict for a counterclaimant, and attorney fees against the original plaintiff, a computer service company that wrongfully sought to collect a debt against a business for defective services, Programming Systems v. Markman Brothers Investments, Harris County, Texas, Justice Precinct
• Lead counsel for Plaintiff, on a case of trademark infringement and unfair competition filed on behalf of a California tax preparation business, successful confidential settlement obtained following motions for preliminary injunction, SAGE, Inc. v. TaxSmart, Inc., et. al., Southern District of California (San Diego).
• Successfully litigated with co-counsel Damian LaCroix and negotiated a settlement in a case of fraud against a professional athlete, Donovan Greer Charitable Foundation v. Defendant, et.al, 215th District Court, Harris County, Texas.
• Lead trial counsel for defendant on trade secret theft and interference with business relations lawsuit. Counterclaimed and recovered a substantial sum for counter-plaintiff against employment recruiter firm, Platinum Solutions, L.L.C. v. Hiller, et. al., Harris County District Court, Houston, Texas.
• Lead counsel for breach of contract action against a residential construction company in connection with a negligently constructed home, Zuspan v. Cobblestone Homes, et.al., 234th District Court, Harris County, Texas.
• Lead counsel for Plaintiff in Woods v. AHD Houston d/b/a Centerfolds, consumer fraud case for plaintiff against sexually oriented business where exotic dancers overcharged plaintiff for services rendered, successful settlement, Harris County Court at Law, Houston, Texas.
• Lead trial counsel for plaintiff in case relating to a swimming pool business and locating of underground utilities, successfully obtained emergency ex parte temporary restraining order, sequestration of electronic records, and writs of seizure for stolen business property, promptly settled. Lightspeed Locating v. Haviland, 152nd District, Harris County, Texas.

Mr. Buche’s practice also focuses on obtaining and protecting the inventions and creative endeavors of his clients, including:

• Assisting inventors with all aspects of protecting their inventions—from obtaining patents, trademarks and copyrights to licensing and manufacturing. Mr. Buche has handled patent applications in a wide variety of technologies, including medical devices, oil field equipment, nautical equipment, sports and outdoor equipment, automotive, household, material handling apparatus, construction industry, and apparel and accessories. Samples.
• Forming partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies and professional associations
• International and national licensing for the manufacture and distribution of technology and trademarked products

Mr. Buche is admitted to practice in:

• State of Texas
• State of California
• U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
• U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. District Courts-California: Southern, Central, Eastern & Northern
• U.S. District Courts-Texas: Southern, Northern, Eastern & Western

Mr. Buche earned his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas and his undergraduate degree in Biology from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.

Professional Affiliations:

La Jolla Bar Association, Board of Directors	2006-2010
San Diego Intellectual Property Law Association	2006-2010
Orange County Patent Law Association	2006-2010
Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association	2009-2010
San Diego Association of Business Trial Lawyers	2008-2010
Houston Intellectual Property Law Association	1999-2004
Houston Trial Lawyers Association	2000-2004

Mr. Buche has served as a guest speaker at South Texas College of Law, University of San Diego School of Law; Houston Channel 13 News, provided analysis for the San Diego Business Journal, and for select business audiences in Houston, Texas and San Diego, California. John Buche was raised in San Angelo, Texas and currently lives in San Diego.

Outside of the practice of law, Mr. Buche enjoys surfing, sailing, snow skiing, martial arts, travel, and the study of language.