TRO Case
Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. v. The Individuals, Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A Hereto
Trademark Infringement
Case No.
1:2026-cv-07891
Filing Date
Jul 07, 2026
Plaintiff
Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp.
Court
Illinois Northern District Court
Docket Entries (23)
Jul 16, 2026
Amended Complaint
Jul 16, 2026
SEALED DOCUMENT by Plaintiff Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. Amended Schedule A
Jul 16, 2026
DECLARATION of Feng Liu
Jul 16, 2026
EXHIBIT by Plaintiff Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. Exhibit 1 regarding declaration 18
Jul 16, 2026
SEALED DOCUMENT by Plaintiff Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. Exhibit 2 to Liu Declaration
Jul 16, 2026
SEALED DOCUMENT by Plaintiff Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. Plaintiff's Memorandum in Support of Joinder and Personal Jurisdiction
Jul 08, 2026
MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman: This case has been assigned to the calendar of Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman. Plaintiff has filed a complaint alleging infringement by 36 defendants. This case follows a pattern common to "Schedule A" cases where plaintiffs allege that defendants employ similar methods and "work in active concert" to infringe plaintiffs' intellectual property. But experience has shown that not all defendants named in a Schedule A case work together. More importantly, experience has shown that joinder under Fed. R. Civ. P. 19 and 20 is rarely appropriate in Schedule A cases. Accordingly, the Court raises the propriety of joinder and requires the plaintiff to file a supplemental memorandum addressing the propriety of joinder at least 7 days before the filing of the motion for temporary restraining order. Alternatively, by the same date, Plaintiff may file an amended complaint and amended Schedule A reducing the number of defendants. However, if Plaintiff names multiple defendants, Plaintiff must show that joinder of those defendants is proper. The Court directs Plaintiff to this Court's standing order in Schedule A cases regarding joinder on the Court's website. The Seventh Circuit has clarified that establishing personal jurisdiction in Schedule A cases requires that plaintiffs show evidence, for each defendant, of actual sales to Illinois customers and of actual products shipped to Illinois. Liu v. Monthly, No. 25-2074, 2026 WL 880018, at *23 (7th Cir. Mar. 31, 2026). Mere evidence of being willing to ship to Illinois customers is insufficient. Plaintiff may file an amended complaint if additional evidence is needed to establish personal jurisdiction over each Defendant under this standard. Finally, the Seventh Circuit has also ruled that the Hague Convention does not permit service by email to defendants in China. Kangol LLC v. Hangzhou Chuanyue Silk Imp. & Exp. Co., 2026 WL 1502198, at *5 (7th Cir. May 29, 2026). If Plaintiff intends to move to effectuate service via email on defendants located in China, then Plaintiff's motion will need to provide individualized arguments for each such Defendant that the Hague Convention does not apply, supported by details of the good faith effort Plaintiff has taken to ascertain the address of each such defendant. Mailed notice.
Jul 07, 2026
COMPLAINT filed by Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp.; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25342443.
Jul 07, 2026
CIVIL Cover Sheet
Jul 07, 2026
ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. by Michael A. Hierl
Jul 07, 2026
ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. by William Benjamin Kalbac
Jul 07, 2026
ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. by Robert Payton Mcmurray
Jul 07, 2026
ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. by John Wilson
Jul 07, 2026
ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. by Elizabeth Aubree Miller
Jul 07, 2026
MOTION by Plaintiff Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. to seal document Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File Under Seal
Jul 07, 2026
SEALED DOCUMENT by Plaintiff Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. Sealed Schedule A
Jul 07, 2026
NOTIFICATION of Affiliates pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 by Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp.
Jul 07, 2026
Notice of Claims Involving Trademarks by Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp.
Jul 07, 2026
CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Beth W. Jantz. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 2). (Text entry; no document attached.)
Jul 07, 2026
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.)
Jul 07, 2026
NOTICE of Motion by Michael A. Hierl for presentment of motion to seal document 8 before Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman on 7/15/2026 at 10:00 AM.
Jul 07, 2026
MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman: Plaintiff's motion for leave to file under seal [8] is granted. No appearance necessary on 7/15/2026. Mailed notice.
Jul 07, 2026