Fitch Even associate Mary F. Fetsco was quoted in the January 24 issue of Law360 in an article discussing the volume of counterfeiting cases filed in the Northern District of Illinois, and how it has become the venue of choice for brands looking to enforce their trademarks.
In the article, “Northern Ill. A Surprise Magnet For Counterfeiting Suits,” Mary explains that after a decade seeing these types of cases, the Northern District of Illinois is intimately familiar with the issues involved and the types of relief often sought. She comments that predictability is key for brand owners: “It’s to a point where the judges look at [a new counterfeiting complaint] and go, ‘Oh, it’s another one of these,’ and that is very appealing to a brand.” While the increasing volume of cases has at least one judge reconsidering his typical damages-awarding practice, she goes on to say that “lowering the judgment is probably not going to deter brand owners in a significant way.”
The article can be read in its entirety on the Law360 website (sub. req.).