Flava Works, Inc. v. Momient, No. 11 C 6306, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Mar. 18, 2013) (Shadur, Sen. J.).

Judge Shadur denied plaintiff Flava Works’ Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss defendant’s copyright infringement counterclaims.  The fact that defendant did not plead the dates of the alleged copyright infringement was not fatal to the counterclaims.  Flava Work’s statute of limitations argument was an affirmative defense and defendant was not required to plead facts refuting it as part of its counterclaims.

The Court also noted that pro se defendant’s periodic failure to appear for hearings has caused the case to move or not move in “fits and starts.”  The Court “cautioned [defendant] . . . that such inattention could prove costly if repeated.”