Allison Dunn

"What is unclear, however, is how the filing of a notice of appeal or a motion to stay the injunction somehow absolves defendants of complying with this court's Dec. 19, 2024 order that they 'immediately stop' using PIZZA PUFFS. Indeed, it appears that defendants are continuing to use PIZZA PUFFS despite this court's order that they stop using that term immediately," plaintiff's counsel Erin Westbrook of Saul Ewing said in a trademark dispute against Little Caesars pizza.

"The parties have signed a binding term sheet and are in the process of preparing the final agreement. Good cause exists to grant the stay because it will conserve party and judicial resources while the parties prepare the final settlement agreement," said the joint motion to U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs of the District of Massachusetts.

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"The fact that attorneys' fees can quickly exceed the value of disputes is both a sad fact of litigation and also precisely the reason that attorneys' fees for unreasonable and bad faith litigation are awarded," said U.S. District Judge April M. Perry, noting the Seventh Circuit recognized in Wisconsin v. Hotline Industries that "'improper removal prolongs litigation (and jacks up fees).'"

An undisclosed agreement between the parties appears to be a sticking point as to whether the plaintiff could pursue the allegations.

Chief U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV recalled advice he received as a new judge: "Never, ever allow a junior [attorney] to utter a word in your courtroom." Saylor didn't take the suggestion.

Chief U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV recalled advice he received as a new judge: "Never, ever allow a junior [attorney] to utter a word in your courtroom." Saylor didn't take the suggestion.

"Little Caesars has made immediate and significant efforts to comply with the court's preliminary injunction order. Although the vast majority of the materials with the term 'Pizza Puffs' have been removed or destroyed, Little Caesars is dealing with some logistical issues relating to physical drive-thru menus at Little Caesars restaurants with drive-thru operations," Little Caesars' Chicago-based attorneys with Crowell & Moring claimed.

Throughout the lengthy litigation, the plaintiff brought in dozens of attorneys from nationally-ranked firms like Nixon Peabody to boutique Chicago firms such as O'Rourke & Moody and Luetkehans, Brady, Garner & Armstrong, among others.

Addressing a circuit split over whether insurance solvency funds are considered a "primary plan," U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman concluded the Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund was not responsible for a decades-old medical bill covered by Medicare.