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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS 

EASTERN DIVISION 

 

ART ASK AGENCY,    ) 

      ) 

  Plaintiff,   ) Case No.  20-cv-1666 

      )    

 v.     ) Hon. Steven C. Seeger 

)    

THE INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, ) 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES, ) 

PARTNERSHIPS AND   ) 

UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS ) 

IDENTIFIED ON SCHEDULE A  ) 

HERETO,     ) 

      ) 

  Defendants.   ) 

____________________________________) 

 

ORDER 


 

 Meanwhile, the world is in the midst of a global pandemic.  The President has declared a 

national emergency.  The Governor has issued a state-wide health emergency.  As things stand, 

the government has forced all restaurants and bars in Chicago to shut their doors, and the schools 

are closed, too.  The government has encouraged everyone to stay home, to keep infections to a 

minimum and help contain the fast-developing public health emergency.   

 

 The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois took action last week 

to protect the public, issuing General Order No. 20-0012 entitled IN RE: CORONAVIRUS 

COVID-19 PUBLIC EMERGENCY.  See www.ilnd.uscourts.gov (last visited March 16, 2020) 

(bold and all caps in original).  On March 16, the Executive Committee issued an amended Order 

that, among other things, holds all civil litigation in abeyance.  Id. 

 

 Last week, Plaintiff filed a motion for a temporary restraining order (Dckt. No. 11) 

against the Defendants (who are located abroad) and requested a hearing.  See Dckt. No. 1, at     

¶ 12.  This Court thought that it was a bad time to hold a hearing on the motion.  So, this Court 

Case: 1:20-cv-01666 Document #: 27 Filed: 03/18/20 Page 1 of 3 PageID #:2438



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moved the hearing by a few weeks to protect the health and safety of our community, including 

counsel and this Court’s staff.  See Dckt. No. 19.  Waiting a few weeks seemed prudent.  

 

 Plaintiff has not demonstrated that it will suffer an irreparable injury from waiting a few 

weeks.  At worst, Defendants might sell a few more counterfeit products in the meantime.  But 

Plaintiff makes no showing about the anticipated loss of sales.  One wonders if the fake fantasy 

products are experiencing brisk sales at the moment.  


 

 In response, Plaintiff Art Ask Agency and its counsel filed a motion for reconsideration.  

See Dckt. No. 20.  They ask this Court to re-think its scheduling order.  They want a hearing this 

week (telephonically if need be).

 

 The world is facing a real emergency.  Plaintiff is not.  The motion to reconsider the 

scheduling order is denied.  

Case: 1:20-cv-01666 Document #: 27 Filed: 03/18/20 Page 2 of 3 PageID #:2439



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Date:  March 18, 2020          

                                         

       Steven C. Seeger 

       United States District Judge 

Case: 1:20-cv-01666 Document #: 27 Filed: 03/18/20 Page 3 of 3 PageID #:2440


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