Grumpy Cat Limited v. The Individuals, Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified in Schedule A Hereto
| Grumpy Cat Limited |
| dingbingbaihuo |
| 1:2025cv09451 |
| August 8, 2025 |
| U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois |
| Jeremy C Daniel |
| Trademark |
| 15 U.S.C. § 1114 Trademark Infringement |
| None |
Docket Report
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This docket was last retrieved on January 5, 2026. A more recent docket listing may be available from PACER.
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| Filing 24 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Jeremy C. Daniel: Pursuant to the plaintiff's notice of voluntary dismissal #22 , this case is dismissed without prejudice. Civil case terminated. Mailed notice. (vcf, ) |
| Filing 23 ANNUAL REMINDER: Pursuant to #Local Rule 3.2 (Notification of Affiliates)#, any nongovernmental party, other than an individual or sole proprietorship, must file a statement identifying all its affiliates known to the party after diligent review or, if the party has identified no affiliates, then a statement reflecting that fact must be filed. An affiliate is defined as follows: any entity or individual owning, directly or indirectly (through ownership of one or more other entities), 5% or more of a party. The statement is to be electronically filed as a PDF in conjunction with entering the affiliates in CM/ECF as prompted. As a reminder to counsel, parties must supplement their statements of affiliates within thirty (30) days of any change in the information previously reported. This minute order is being issued to all counsel of record to remind counsel of their obligation to provide updated information as to additional affiliates if such updating is necessary. If counsel has any questions regarding this process, this #LINK# will provide additional information. Signed by the Honorable Virginia M. Kendall on 12/31/2025: Mailed notice. (tg, ) |
| Filing 22 NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by Grumpy Cat Limited (Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 21 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Jeremy C. Daniel: Motion hearing held. Plaintiff's motion for expedited discovery and electronic service #19 is granted in part and denied in part. The plaintiff may issue discovery to third-party platforms to obtain information concerning the defendant's identity, location, contact information, and sales of the accused products. The plaintiff has not established that traditional methods of service are inadequate. Mailed notice. (vcf, ) |
| Filing 20 NOTICE of Motion by Matthew A. Werber for presentment of motion for miscellaneous relief, #19 before Honorable Jeremy C. Daniel on 11/13/2025 at 09:30 AM. (Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 19 MOTION by Plaintiff Grumpy Cat Limited for Expedited Discovery and Electronic Service (Attachments: #1 Declaration of Matthew A. Werber, #2 Exhibit A to Decl. of Matthew A. Werber, #3 Exhibit B to Decl. of Matthew A. Werber, #4 Exhibit C to Decl. of Matthew A. Werber, #5 Unpublished)(Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 18 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Jeremy C. Daniel: The rule to show cause #9 is discharged. The Court finds that the plaintiff had no competent evidence to support its allegations that the defendants initially named in this lawsuit would destroy evidence or hide or transfer assets. Yet the Court recognizes that past experience in this district, including before this Court, may have created a false sense that such allegations are acceptable. They are not. Having put the plaintiff on notice, the Court finds that a warning is sufficient at this time. Mailed notice. (vcf, ) |
| Filing 17 MEMORANDUM show cause hearing #12 , order on motion for extension of time,, terminate hearings,, set deadlines, #16 by Grumpy Cat Limited -- Supplemental Response to Show Cause Order -- (Attachments: #1 Werber Decl., #2 Ex. 1, #3 Ex. 2, #4 Ex. 3, #5 Ex. 4)(Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 16 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Jeremy C. Daniel: The plaintiff's motion for an extension of time #14 is granted. The plaintiff's supplemental brief is now due on or before October 8, 2025. The motion hearing is stricken. Mailed notice. (vcf, ) |
| Filing 15 NOTICE of Motion by Matthew A. Werber for presentment of extension of time #14 before Honorable Jeremy C. Daniel on 9/25/2025 at 09:30 AM. (Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 14 MOTION by Plaintiff Grumpy Cat Limited for extension of time PLAINTIFF'S MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF IN RESPONSE TO SHOW CAUSE ORDER (Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 13 TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS held on 08-27-2025 before the Honorable Jeremy C. Daniel. Order Number: 52936. Court Reporter Contact Information: Krista Burgeson, [email protected]. IMPORTANT: The transcript may be viewed at the court's public terminal or purchased through the Court Reporter/Transcriber before the deadline for Release of Transcript Restriction. After that date it may be obtained through the Court Reporter/Transcriber or PACER. For further information on the redaction process, see the Court's web site at www.ilnd.uscourts.gov under Quick Links select Policy Regarding the Availability of Transcripts of Court Proceedings. Redaction Request due 10/1/2025. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 10/13/2025. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 12/9/2025. (Burgeson, Krista) |
| Filing 12 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Jeremy C. Daniel: Show cause hearing held. Plaintiff's supplement to the memorandum is due on or before 9/24/2025. Mailed notice. (vcf, ) |
| Filing 11 MEMORANDUM order on motion to seal document,,,,,,,, set deadlines/hearings,,,,,,, #9 by Grumpy Cat Limited - Response to Show Cause Order - (Attachments: #1 Werber Decl., #2 Ex. A - page with case list, #3 Ex. B - page with defendant list, #4 Ex. C - Milwaukee 25-00273 Order)(Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 10 AMENDED complaint by Grumpy Cat Limited against dingbingbaihuo and terminating The Individuals, Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified in Schedule A Hereto (Attachments: #1 Ex. 1 - TM Registrations, #2 Ex. 2 - Infringement Listing, #3 Ex. 3 - CBP, #4 Ex. 4 - IP Rights, #5 Ex. 5 - DHS, #6 Ex. 6 - Amended Schedule A)(Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 9 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Jeremy C. Daniel: The plaintiff's motion to seal #7 is denied. "The court may for good cause shown enter an order directing that one or more documents be filed under seal." L.R. 26.2(b). "[A] district court must be sensitive to the rights of the public in determining whether any particular document, or class of documents, is appropriately filed under seal." United States v. Corbitt, 879 F.2d 224, 228 (7th Cir. 1989). Here, the plaintiff seeks to seal the identities of the 99 defendants it has sued. The plaintiff argues that it intends to seek temporary ex parte relief and that sealing is necessary to prevent the defendants from learning of these proceedings prior to execution of the temporary restraining order. The plaintiff claims that the defendants would destroy evidence and hide or transfer assets, which would frustrate the purpose of the plaintiff's lawsuit. But the plaintiff has not presented any evidence to support these claims. And the Court declines to join in the plaintiff's rampant speculation. Therefore, the motion to seal is denied and Dkt. No. 3 is unsealed. In fact, the plaintiff's claims are so speculative and generalized that the Court questions whether the plaintiff conducted an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances and whether the factual contentions have any evidentiary support. The Court also questions whether the legal contention, that sealing is necessary to avoid frustrating the purpose of the underlying lawsuit or interfering with the plaintiff's ability to pursue or enforce any judgment, is supported by existing law or a nonfrivolous argument for extending existing law. Consequently, the Court orders the plaintiff to show cause why it has not violated Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(b) by making generalized assertions not specific to the defendants named in this lawsuit. The rule to show cause hearing is set for August 27, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. Mailed notice. (jg, ) |
| Filing 8 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Jeremy C. Daniel: The plaintiff has filed a complaint alleging infringement by 99 defendants. This case follows a pattern common to "Schedule A" cases where plaintiffs allege that defendants employ similar methods and that the infringing acts arise out of the same transaction or occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences. But experience has shown this is rarely the case. More importantly, experience has shown that joinder under Fed. R. Civ. P. 20 is rarely appropriate in Schedule A cases. See, e.g., Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. v. The Partnerships, 24 CV 9401, Dkt. 27 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 18, 2024). Accordingly, the Court raises the propriety of joinder and requires the plaintiff to file a supplemental memorandum addressing the propriety of joinder on or before August 20, 2025. Alternatively, by the same date, the plaintiff may file an amended complaint naming one or more defendants; however, if the plaintiff names multiple defendants, the plaintiff must show that joinder of those defendants is proper. All pending motions are hereby stayed pending resolution of the joinder issue. Further, should the plaintiff (1) file an amended complaint naming fewer defendants in this case, (2) file a separate complaint naming one or more of the remaining defendants originally named in this case, and (3) assert the same claims against those defendants, the Court reminds the plaintiff of Local Rule 40.3(b)(2), which requires the plaintiff to indicate the number of the this case and the name of the judge to whom it was assigned. Mailed notice. (jg, ) |
| 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. (khg, ) |
| CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Jeremy C. Daniel. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Albert Berry, III. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 2). (khg, ) |
| Filing 7 MOTION by Plaintiff Grumpy Cat Limited to seal document exhibit #3 - Seal Schedule A to the Complaint - (Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 6 ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Grumpy Cat Limited by Peter Krusiewicz (Krusiewicz, Peter) |
| Filing 5 ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Grumpy Cat Limited by Matthew A. Werber (Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 4 NOTIFICATION of Affiliates pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 by Grumpy Cat Limited (Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 3 SEALED EXHIBIT by Plaintiff Grumpy Cat Limited -- Schedule A to complaint -- regarding complaint, #1 (Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 2 CIVIL Cover Sheet (Werber, Matthew) |
| Filing 1 COMPLAINT filed by Grumpy Cat Limited; Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-23860351. (Attachments: #1 Ex. 1 - TM Registrations, #2 Ex. 2 - CBP, #3 Ex. 3 - IP Rights, #4 Ex. 4 - DHS, #5 Ex. 5 - Copyright 1 of 2, #6 Ex. 5 - Copyright 2 of 2)(Werber, Matthew) |
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| Plaintiff: Grumpy Cat Limited | |
| Represented By: | Matthew A. Werber |
| Represented By: | Peter Krusiewicz |
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| Defendant: dingbingbaihuo | |
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