Musso v. Excellence in Motivation, Inc. et al

Filing 30

WRITTEN Opinion Signed by the Honorable Elaine E. Bucklo on 9/22/2010:Mailed notice(mpj, )

Order Form (01/2005)

United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Name of Assigned Judge or Magistrate Judge

Elaine E. Bucklo 10 C 3236

Sitting Judge if Other than Assigned Judge

CASE NUMBER CASE TITLE
DOCKET ENTRY TEXT

DATE Musso vs. Excellence in Motivation

9/22/2010

Defendant and counterclaimant Excellence in Motivation's (EIM) motion (26) to add as a defendant Andrew Stephens heard on 9/22/10 and the motion is denied.

O[ For further details see text below.]
00:10

Notices mailed by Judicial staff.

STATEMENT

Defendant and counterclaimant Excellence in Motivation's (EIM) motion to add as a defendant Andrew Stephens is denied. First, it is not at all clear that Stephens can be sued in Illinois. He is a resident of Missouri and EIM is located in Ohio. The only basis for adding Stephens to this lawsuit is that he allegedly entered into a conspiracy with plaintiff Musso and plaintiff Neely in a companion case that began sometime after all three had left the employment of EIM. The conspiracy as described is vague and counsel, at the hearing on this motion, was not able to add any detail that might convince me that the charge was, at this point at least, more than speculation because Stephens, Musso and Neely have allegedly ended up employed by the same company, and according to EIM, must be using confidential information obtained from EIM in their new employment.. Notably, the new company, the supposed beneficiary of the alleged breaches of faith, is not sued. Furthermore, most of EIM's counterclaim against Musso alleges conduct supposedly undertaken by Musso alone and involves a different company entirely. Finally,EIM says there is an ongoing suit brought by Stephens against EIM in federal court in Missouri. EIM might have moved to transfer that suit to this court, thereby giving Stephens the opportunity to respond. It has not done so.

10C3236 Musso vs. Excellence in Motivation

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