Pure Body Logistics, Inc. v. Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sunil R. Harjani: Plaintiff failed to file a supplemental memorandum addressing the propriety of joinder. The Court, within its discretion, determines that plaintiff has failed to satisfy its burden to show that joinder of 363 defendants is proper in this matter under Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2). See Estee Lauder Cosms. Ltd. v. Partnerships & Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A, 334 F.R.D. 182, 185 (N.D. Ill. 2020) (noting that "[plaintiff] bears the burden of demonstrating that joinder is proper"); H-D U.S.A. v. Partnerships & Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule "A", 2021 WL 780486, at *2 (N.D. Ill. Mar. 1, 2021) ("The Seventh Circuit has recognized the broad discretion that district courts have in remedying misjoinder, so long as the court's decision avoids unnecessary harm to the parties."). Within its discretion, on this record, the Court finds that plaintiff has failed to meet its burden to show that joinder is proper here. See H-D U.S.A., 2021 WL 780486, at *3 (finding joinder improper where plaintiff failed to allege "any nonconclusory facts to form a basis for a conclusion that the defendants' conduct overlaps enough to warrant joinder"). Accordingly, plaintiff's motion for temporary restraining order [8] is denied without prejudice. Plaintiff's motions for leave to file under seal [7] [11] and motion for leave to file excess pages [12] are granted. Plaintiff is granted leave to file an amended complaint with a single defendant by 9/17/2025. Telephone status hearing set for 10/8/2025 at 9:15 a.m. is stricken. Mailed notice

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sunil R. Harjani: Plaintiff's motions for leave to file under seal [7] [11], plaintiff's motion for temporary restraining order [8], and plaintiff's motion for leave to file excess pages [12] are entered and continued. Upon review of the complaint and the TRO submissions, the Court sua sponte raises the proprietary of joinder of 363 defendants in this case. See, e.g., Estee Lauder Cosmetics Ltd. v. Schedule A, 334 F.R.D. 182 (N.D. Ill. 2020). By 8/25/2025, plaintiff shall file a supplemental memorandum addressing the propriety of joinder in light of the principles described in Estee Lauder. In the alternative, plaintiff has leave to file an amended complaint with a single defendant or a smaller subset of defendants along with its memorandum explaining specifically why each defendant is properly joined to all of the others. Estee Lauder, 334 F.R.D. at 189. A telephone status hearing is set for 10/8/2025 at 9:15 a.m. The call-in number is (855) 244-8681 and the access code is 172 628 1276##. Attorneys of record may not use speakerphones during the status hearing. Members of the public and media will be able to call in to listen to this hearing but will be placed on mute. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Mailed notice