2025-cv-06779

COMPLAINT filed by Universal City Studios LLC ; Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-23644477.

Exhibit 1

Exhibit 1

Exhibit 1

Exhibit 1

Exhibit 1

SEALED EXHIBIT by Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC Schedule A regarding complaint[1]

Exhibit 2

Exhibit 2

Exhibit 2

MOTION by Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC for leave to file under seal

Exhibit 3

CIVIL Cover Sheet

NOTIFICATION of Affiliates pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 by Universal City Studios LLC

Notice of Claims Involving Trademarks by Universal City Studios LLC

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC by Justin R. Gaudio

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC by Amy Crout Ziegler

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC by Berel Yonathan Lakovitsky

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC by Luana Faria De Souza (Faria De Souza, Luana)

CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Lindsay C. Jenkins. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Jeannice W. Appenteng. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 2). (Text entry; no document attached.)

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. (Text entry; no document attached.)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Lindsay C. Jenkins: The Court grants the motion to seal [3], but upon review of the complaint, the Court sua sponte raises the propriety of joining more than 90 defendants in a single action. By June 30, 2025, plaintiff must file a supplemental memorandum addressing the propriety of joinder. In the alternative, plaintiff has leave to file an amended complaint by June 30, 2025 with a smaller subset of defendants along with a memorandum explaining why that smaller subset of defendants is properly joined. No motion for an ex parte temporary restraining order should be filed in this matter without counsel first consulting the opinion issued in Wham-O Holding v. The Partnerships, 24 CV 12523, Dkt. 39 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 20, 2025) (Alexakis, J.). Mailed notice.

Supplemental Memorandum in Response to Minute Order [11] by Universal City Studios LLC

DECLARATION of Justin R. Gaudio regarding other[12]

MOTION by Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC for temporary restraining order Including a Temporary Injunction, a Temporary Asset Restraint, and Expedited Discovery

MEMORANDUM by Universal City Studios LLC in support of motion for temporary restraining order[14]

DECLARATION of Justin R. Gaudio regarding memorandum in support of motion[15]

DECLARATION of Monique Cheng Joe regarding memorandum in support of motion[15]

SEALED EXHIBIT by Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC Exhibit 3 - Parts 1-2 regarding declaration[17]

MOTION by Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC for Electronic Service of Process Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(f)(3)

MEMORANDUM by Universal City Studios LLC in support of motion for miscellaneous relief[19]

DECLARATION of Justin R. Gaudio regarding memorandum in support of motion[20]

SEALED DOCUMENT by Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC Schedule A Template

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Lindsay C. Jenkins:The Court has reviewed the plaintiff's memorandum on joinder [Dkt. [12]] and determines, within its discretion, that it has failed to satisfy its burden to show that joinder of 90 defendants is proper in this matter under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 20(a)(2). See Este Lauder Cosms. Ltd. v. The Partnerships, 334 F.R.D. 182, 185 (N.D. Ill. 2020) (noting that "[plaintiff] bears the burden of demonstrating that joinder is proper"). In evaluating the appropriateness of joinder, the Court assesses whether a logical relationship exists between defendants through actual evidentiary overlap, not coincidence. Este Lauder, 334 F.R.D. at 185. Overall, the arguments fall short of establishing a logical relationship among the defendants. The Court is not persuaded that any one defendant's infringement is linked to the next defendant's infringement sufficient to show they are part of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences as required by Rule 20. Even if the Court were mistaken in its joinder analysis, the Court exercises its discretion to not permit joinder in this case. See Dorsey v. Varga, 55 F.4th 1094, 110204 (7th Cir. 2022). Joining this many defendants in one case simply will not promote judicial economy. See Este Lauder, 334 F.R.D. at 189 ("[P]resenting dozens or hundreds of defendants in one lawsuit actually undermines judicial economy, because this Court must evaluate the evidence submitted in support of liability and, eventually, damages. That is especially true in the ex parte setting of a temporary restraining order, as well as for default-judgment motions."); Art Ask Agency, 2021 WL 5493226, at *3 (rejecting joinder of 216 defendants, noting that "joinder in this case may yield significant financial benefits to [the plaintiff] at the judiciary's expense.") Plaintiff is granted leave to file an amended complaint consistent with this order along with an amended Schedule A by no later than July 3, 2025. The remaining motions [14] and [19] are denied without prejudice to refiling. Mailed notice.

AMENDED complaint by Universal City Studios LLC against Lushleece, the Individuals and Entities Operating Lushleece and terminating The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A

EXHIBIT by Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC Amended Schedule A regarding amended complaint, [24]

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Lindsay C. Jenkins: Plaintiff can proceed on its amended complaint against the Defendant listed in [24] [25]. Any motion for electronic service of process or request for early discovery should be filed by July 9, 2025. Mailed notice.

MOTION by Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC for discovery Expedited

MOTION by Plaintiff Universal City Studios LLC for Electronic Service of Process Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(f)(3)

MEMORANDUM by Universal City Studios LLC in support of motion for miscellaneous relief[28]

DECLARATION of Justin R. Gaudio regarding memorandum in support of motion[29]

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Lindsay C. Jenkins: The motions for expedited discovery and for electronic service 27 28 are granted. Separate order to issue. Mailed notice.

ORDER Signed by the Honorable Lindsay C. Jenkins on 7/10/2025. Mailed notice.

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Lindsay C. Jenkins: A status report as to next steps is due by July 28, 2025. Mailed notice.

NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by Universal City Studios LLC as to Lushleece and the Individuals and Entities Operating Lushleece

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Lindsay C. Jenkins: Plaintiff has filed a voluntary dismissal 34 as to Defendant Lushleece. There is no work remaining for the court to do so that case can be closed. Civil case terminated. Mailed notice.