Freeborn Attorneys Successful in University of Illinois Trademark Case

Freeborn & Peters LLP, led by Partners Andrew L. Goldstein, Daniel J. Voelker and David L. Ter Molen, helped to successfully defend the University of Illinois against a lawsuit filed by the artist who designed the Chief Illiniwek symbol in connection with its athletic programs claiming, among other things, breach of contract and violation of his First Amendment rights and seeking to cancel the University of Illinois'  trademark registration for the Chief.

The court dismissed the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.  The court ruled that the claims in the case were essentially breach of contract claims that are barred by sovereign immunity.