U.S. federal court public records show that "Schedule A" cases are a form of intellectual property litigation in which plaintiffs name hundreds of online sellers as defendants in a single action. The following is an objective overview based on public records only.
A Schedule A case is a batch lawsuit format. Public case records show plaintiffs typically list dozens to hundreds of online storefronts as "Schedule A defendants" in a single case filing. The defendant list is attached as a schedule (Exhibit A) rather than named in the case caption.
CourtListener data indicates the N.D. Illinois (ILND) federal court is a primary venue for this type of action. Claims commonly assert trademark infringement and copyright infringement under federal IP law.
A TRO is an emergency court order available at the outset of litigation. Public case records show that in Schedule A cases, plaintiffs often seek a TRO within days of filing, requesting courts to order e-commerce platforms (such as Amazon) to freeze defendant accounts and remove listings.
Because TRO applications are sometimes submitted ex parte (without notifying defendants), public court records indicate some sellers first learn of litigation after account freezes have been executed. Freeze amounts vary widely across cases.
CourtListener data shows Schedule A case volumes have increased in recent years, involving sellers on Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, Wish, and similar platforms. Defendant lists are typically made public after the initial filing period.
The above is an objective statistical summary based on public court records. It is intended to help sellers understand publicly available U.S. IP litigation information. It does not constitute legal advice, predict outcomes, or recommend specific actions. Consult a licensed attorney for case-specific questions.