Anagram International, LLC v. The Individuals, Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified On Schedule A Hereto

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Anagram International, LLC as to The Individuals, Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A Hereto on 2/26/2025, answer due 3/19/2025.

SUMMONS Issued (Court Participant) as to Defendant The Individuals, Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A Hereto

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sara L. Ellis: Having reviewed Plaintiff's amended complaint [14] and memorandum on joinder [15], the Court finds there is a sufficient basis to find joinder appropriate at this stage of the litigation. The Court grants Plaintiff's motion for expedited discovery and electronic service of process [16]. The Court strikes the status date set for 3/11/2025 and resets it to 3/26/2025 at 9:30 AM. Plaintiff should file the joint initial status report by 3/21/2025. Attorneys/Parties should appear for the hearing by calling the Toll-Free Number: (650) 479-3207, Access Code: 2314 361 1508. Throughout the telephonic hearing, each speaker will be expected to identify themselves for the record before speaking. Please note that the conference call-in will be used by all cases that are on the court's calendar for the said date, therefore counsel must be in a quiet area while on the line and must have the telephone muted until your case is called. Members of the public and media will be able to call in to listen to this hearing (use toll-free number). Please be sure to keep your phone on mute when you are not speaking. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court-issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Emailed notice

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sara L. Ellis: The Court grants Plaintiff's motions for leave to file under seal 4 and for electronic discovery and electronic service of process 10. The Court orders Plaintiff to file a memorandum regarding why joinder of 242 Defendants in this action is appropriate. Under Rule 20, a plaintiff may join multiple defendants in a single action if: (1) the claims against them are asserted with respect to or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences, and (2) a question of law or fact common to all defendants exists. Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2)(A)(B). In reviewing the materials filed by Plaintiff in this case, it does not appear that joinder is proper as to all Defendants. As the Court stated in Roadget Business Pte. Ltd. v. The Individuals, Corporations, Limited Liability Cos., Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A Hereto, alleging that multiple defendants have infringed on the same copyright, trademark, or patent in the same way, without more, does not create the substantial evidentiary overlap required to find joinder proper. No. 23 C 17036, 2024 WL 1858592, at *67 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 29, 2024). The Court directs Plaintiff to file an amended complaint by 3/5/2025, as well as a statement on joinder explaining how the remaining Defendants comply with the Courts order in Roadget. Emailed notice