MINUTE entry before the Honorable Martha M. Pacold: By 11/12/2026, plaintiff is ordered to show cause why this case should not be dismissed or severed for improper joinder. Plaintiff is advised of the following: First, "[o]n motion or on its own, the court may at any time, on just terms, add or drop a party." Fed. R. Civ. P. 21(a). Second, sua sponte review of the propriety of joinder in Schedule A cases is a regular practice of courts in this district because plaintiffs "routinely file these multi-defendant cases. using cookie-cutter complaints that allege in a conclusory manner that 'on information and belief' each infringing defendant is inter-connected with the others." Viking Arm AS v. P'ships & Unincorporated Ass'ns Identified on Schedule "A", No. 24-cv-1566, 2024 WL 2953105, at *1 (N.D. Ill. June 6, 2024). Third, "[c]ourts generally find that claims against different defendants arose out of the same transaction or occurrence only if there is a logical relationship between the separate causes of action." Estee Lauder Cosms. Ltd. v. P'ships & Unincorporated Ass'ns Identified on Schedule "A", 334 F.R.D. 182, 185 (N.D. Ill. 2020) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). Fourth, courts have held that "to be part of the same transaction requires shared, overlapping facts that give rise to each cause of action, and not just distinct, albeit coincidentally identical, facts." Id. (quoting In re EMC Corp., 677 F.3d 1351, 1359 (Fed. Cir. 2012)). Fifth, courts have held that the allegation that multiple defendants have infringed on the same copyright or trademark in the same way "does not create the substantial evidentiary overlap required to find a similar transaction or occurrence." Roadget Bus. Pte. Ltd. v. Schedule A Defs., No. 23-cv-17036, 2024 WL 1858592, at *6 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 29, 2024) (collecting cases). Finally, courts have held that the allegation that defendants "share unique identifiers, such as design elements and similarities of the unauthorized products offered for sale," is not sufficient to establish joinder. Ilustrata Servicos Design, Ltd. v. P'ships & Unincorporated Ass'ns Identified on Schedule "A", No. 21-cv-05993, 2021 WL 5396690, at *2 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 18, 2021); Art Ask Agency v. Individuals, Corps., Ltd. Liab. Cos., P'ships, & Unincorporated Ass'ns Identified on Schedule "A", No. 21-cv-06197, 2021 WL 5493226, at *2 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 23, 2021). Mailed notice.
Zorro Productions, Inc. v. The Individuals, Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations Identified On Schedule A Hereto
案件进展
14 条记录MINUTE entry before the Honorable Martha M. Pacold: Plaintiff's motion 6 to proceed under seal is denied. Proceeding under seal is extraordinary. Plaintiff has not identified circumstances warranting such extraordinary relief. See generally Eicher Motors Ltd. v. P'ships & Unincorporated Ass'ns Identified on Schedule "A", No. 25-CV-02937, 2025 WL 2299593 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 8, 2025). Initial status hearing is set for 11/19/2026 at 9:15 a.m. in person in Courtroom 2325. By 11/12/2026, the parties shall file an Initial Joint Status Report. Mailed notice.
MAILED trademark report to Patent Trademark Office, Alexandria VA.
Notice of Claims Involving Trademarks by Zorro Productions, Inc.
NOTIFICATION of Affiliates pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 by Zorro Productions, Inc.
CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Martha M. Pacold. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Albert Berry, III. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 2).
CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1(b), a United States Magistrate Judge of this court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action. If all parties consent to have the currently assigned United States Magistrate Judge conduct all proceedings in this case, including trial, the entry of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings, all parties must sign their names on the attached Consent To form. This consent form is eligible for filing only if executed by all parties. The parties can also express their consent to jurisdiction by a magistrate judge in any joint filing, including the Joint Initial Status Report or proposed Case Management Order.
SEALED DOCUMENT by Plaintiff Zorro Productions, Inc. Sealed Schedule A
MOTION by Plaintiff Zorro Productions, Inc. to seal document Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File Under Seal
查看公开文件 ↗ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Zorro Productions, Inc. by Robert Payton Mcmurray
ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Zorro Productions, Inc. by William Benjamin Kalbac
ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Zorro Productions, Inc. by Michael A. Hierl
CIVIL Cover Sheet
COMPLAINT filed by Zorro Productions, Inc.; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25803050.
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