Attorney Christopher Keleher Speaks Out on the Growing Debate Over IP Suits Targeting Online Sellers

February 25, 2025 at 17:20 PM EST

Chicago, Illinois – Attorney Christopher Keleher, a leading defense attorney in Schedule A cases, was recently quoted in Law360’s article, “Illinois vs. The Internet: IP Suits Over Online Sales Stir Debate.” The article highlights the rise of large-scale intellectual property (IP) lawsuits that group numerous online sellers into single complaints. This legal strategy has sparked growing concerns over due process.

Keleher, one of the most active defense attorneys in these cases since 2020, emphasized the significant impact on small business owners who find themselves caught in the crosshairs of mass litigation. “It’s a very harrowing experience, and I don’t use that word lightly because many of my clients are mom-and-pop type operations,” Keleher told Law360.

The Northern District of Illinois has become the epicenter for these cases, with thousands of lawsuits filed in recent years. Advocates argue that this legal approach helps brand owners combat counterfeit products efficiently. Critics—including Keleher—note that courts are now scrutinizing plaintiffs’ claims more closely.

“When I first started this, basically everything was just rubber stamps,” Keleher said. “Now, judges are more skeptical and very hesitant to grant plaintiffs a lot of the relief they are seeking.”

The article also highlighted recent judicial pushback, including a decision by U.S. District Judge Jeremy C. Daniel, who rejected an attempt by Toyota Motor Sales USA to join 103 defendants into a single suit, citing the lack of a “logical relationship” among them.

Keleher believes that guidance from the Seventh Circuit would help clarify key legal questions surrounding these cases. “There’s a lot of nuances to this litigation that has not gone up,” he noted. “Obviously once the Seventh Circuit rules one way or another, that could take out an important plank of either the plaintiff’s or the defendant’s arsenal.”

As the debate over Schedule A litigation continues, Keleher remains a leader, advocating for the fair treatment of small business owners and for more balanced legal standards.

For more information, please visit https://appellatelawgroup.com/.

Keleher Appellate Law Group represents individuals and businesses throughout all stages of appellate litigation in state and federal courts. As a former federal clerk, Lead Counsel Christopher Keleher has extensive experience handling federal appeals in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Tenth Circuits and the Appellate Courts of Illinois.

The Keleher Appellate Law Group, LLC
1 East Erie Street Suite 5250 Chicago, IL 60611
877.269.0076 x848
https://appellatelawgroup.com/
Press Contact : Tiana Guzman

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Attorney Christopher Keleher Speaks Out on the Growing Debate Over IP Suits Targeting Online Sellers

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