In response to recent questions about a potential breach of the CM/ECF system, the Northern District issued a General Order setting out a definition of Highly Sensitive Documents (HSD). The General Order states that “[m]ost sealed filings in civil cases do not constitute HSDs” and specifically excludes “[c]ommercial [and] proprietary information” from HSD classification. Documents will not be classified as HSD solely because they include personal identifying or financial information.  In addition to various criminal…

On December 3, 2020, from 3:00 – 5:30 pm CT the IP Law Symposium Committee, including Co-Chairs Jim Muraff of McDonald Hopkins LLC and Matt Marrone of McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd., and Vice Chair Viren Soni of the CME Group, are hosting a series of fireside chats and panels where you will hear directly from Judges across the country about current patent and trademark litigation topics, trends, and insights.  The chats will be with:…

The Northern District has revised its civil cover sheet.  The cover sheet is a fillable form and now includes the new Nature of Suit code for Defend Trade Secrets Act claims – 880.…

Chief Judge Pallmeyer issued her seventh amended COVID General Order earlier today, October 29, 2020. As with the last order, there are no additional blanket case extensions. The General Order basically extends provisions limiting courthouse access to what is necessary. But it also suspends jury trials — both civil and criminal — from November 9, 2020 through January 26, 2021. Bench trials are allowed, but no jury trials will be held in the Northern District…

ABC Corp. I v. Partnership & Unincorporated Assocs. Identified on Sched. A, No. 1:20 cv 4806, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Sept. 4, 2020) (Seeger, J.). Having previously issued a show cause order, Judge Seeger granted plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint in this patent dispute naming the plaintiff, or the case would be dismissed for improperly filing as an anonymous plaintiff. While Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 10(a) allows a plaintiff to file anonymously in…

Chief Judge Pallmeyer opted for an abbreviated format for her sixth amended COVID General Order issued, Friday, September 4. That is presumably because the order is simpler than it was at the outset of the pandemic. There are no blanket case extension. The General Order basically extends provisions limiting courthouse access to wha tis necessary. Specifically, the General Order requires: No Local Rule 5.2(f) Courtesy Copies — Absent case-specific requests, Local Rule 5.2(f) requiring paper…

The UIC John Marshall Law School’s Center for Intellectual Property, Information & Privacy is hosting a virtual seminar along with the Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice on Friday, September 11, 2020 from 7:40am – 3:00pm CT focused on IP issues in the midst of the pandemic. The speaker list is impressive, headlined by the Federal Circuit’s Judge Linn and Judge Michel (Ret.). The conference promises to be unique and thought provoking. You can…