On April 1, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the Asian American Bar Association of Chicago (AABA Chicago) in collaboration with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, will host a listening party and reception for the live‑streamed Supreme Court oral argument in the birthright citizenship case, Trump v. Barbara, No.
R. David Donoghue
Chief Judge Reemphasizes Timeliness & Deference in Affirming Magistrate’s Motion to Compel Denial
By R. David Donoghue on
Posted in Discovery
Feit Elec. Co., Inc. v. CFL Techs., LLC, Slip Op., No. 13 C 9339, (N.D. Ill. Kendall, C.J. & McShain, Mag. J.) (Oct. 22, 2025).
Chief Judge Kendall affirmed Magistrate Judge McShain’s order denying declaratory judgment defendant and patentholder CFL Technologies’ (CFL) motion to compel and for spoliation sanctions. The decision is a cautionary…
Northern District Clarifies Pleading & Injunction-Dissolution Standards in Schedule A Case
By R. David Donoghue on
Posted in Injunction, Pleading Requirements
Quiju Chen v. John Does 1–10, et al., No. 25 C 6611, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Oct. 29, 2025) (Tharp, J.).
In an omnibus order Judge Tharp resolved a number of motions in a Lanham Act trademark “Schedule A” Doe case, providing helpful guidance on Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 pleading sufficiency, the standard…
Copyright Schedule A Plaintiffs Need Proof of Illinois Sales
By R. David Donoghue on
Posted in Jurisdiction
Art Ask Agency v. Schedule A Does, No. 25 C 4359, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Oct. 9, 2025) (Coleman, J.).
Judge Coleman denied plaintiff Art Ask Agency’s motion for default judgment and dismissed Art Ask Agency’s Schedule A copyright case for lack of personal jurisdiction pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2). The Court…
“Little Prince” Trademark Case Survives Personal Jurisdiction, Alternative Service, and Fair Use Challenges
By R. David Donoghue on
Posted in Jurisdiction
Societe Pour Loeuvre et la Memoire Dantoine de Saint Exupery – Succession De Saint Exupery-Dagay v. Schedule A Does, No. 25 C 579, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Oct. 3, 2025) (Durkin, J.).
Judge Durkin denied a Schedule A defendant’s motion to dismiss trademark claims centering on “The Little Prince,” novella rejecting arguments under Fed.
N.D. Ill. Reinforces the “Test-Sale-or-Better” Standard for Web-Based Personal Jurisdiction in Schedule A Cases
By R. David Donoghue on
Posted in Jurisdiction
Tee Turtle LLC v. Schedule A Does, No. 25 C 2910, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Oct. 9, 2025) (Coleman, J.)
Judge Coleman denied default judgment and dismissed Tee Turtle’s Schedule A case for lack of personal jurisdiction pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2) after the plaintiff failed to offer evidence of even a…
N.D. Illinois Requests Pro Bono Nominations
By R. David Donoghue on
Posted in Legal News
- dedication to pro bono or public interest work;
- outstanding achievement resulting from the
Black History Month Program: 1913 Federal Mann Act: Prosecution of Jack Johnson
By R. David Donoghue on
Posted in Legal News
On February 11, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in collaboration with the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter and the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., is hosting what promises to be an interesting and timely program titled “A Critical Review of…
Likelihood of Confusion Sufficiently Pled Despite Conclusory Allegations on Some Factors
By R. David Donoghue on
Posted in Pleading Requirements
RBG Plastics d/b/ Restaurantware, LLC v. Sparkles Gift & Party Shop, Inc., No. 24-cv-02155 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 29, 2025) (Valderrama, J.).
Judge Valderrama denied defendants’ motion to dismiss trademark infringement claims but granted dismissal of false advertising and Illinois Consumer Fraud Act (ICFA) claims in this dispute over plaintiff’s RESTAURANTWARE trademark.
As an initial…
Plaintiff Must Identify Specific Accused Products to State Patent Infringement Claim
By R. David Donoghue on
Posted in Pleading Requirements
Bala Bangles, Inc. v. The P’ships & Unincorporated Assocs. Identified on Schedule A, No. 23-cv-16721 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 26, 2024) (Valderrama, J.).
Judge Valderrama granted defendant Blueocean Furniture’s Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss in this Schedule A case, holding that plaintiff Bala Bangles failed to state a claim for patent infringement…