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Granger, Indiana Entrepreneur Zachary Richard Zellers Sues Over Trademark Infringement, Faces Legal Hurdles in Federal Court

Granger, Indiana – Zachary Richard Zellers has filed a lawsuit against Diz Jackson and two unknown defendants, using “John Doe” as placeholders, claiming they are using his trademark “DJ Zman” without permission. Zellers, who claims to own the trademark through his DJ, Audio/Visual, and stage production business, DJ ZMAN LLC, argues the defendants’ use of the name online and on social media is damaging his brand and constitutes trademark infringement. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, includes documents showing that Indiana officially issued the trademark in question to DJ ZMAN LLC on February 20, 2025.

However, Judge Damon R. Leichty responded to the complaint, highlighting several issues with Zellers’ self-filed case. He explained that Zellers, who requested a waiver for filing fees due to financial hardship, did not meet the necessary legal requirements for a trademark infringement case. The judge noted that Zellers failed to provide enough detail about the harm caused and emphasized that the trademark belongs to DJ ZMAN LLC, not Zellers personally. Therefore, the lawsuit should be filed by the company, which must also be represented by a lawyer in court.

The court also noted that Zellers cannot use “John Doe” placeholders for the unknown defendants. Instead, he or the company must identify the defendants and provide their details. Judge Leichty gave Zellers until March 28, 2025, to amend his complaint and comply with the required legal procedures. Zellers was also informed he could reapply to have the court waive his fees after making the necessary changes.

Zellers seeks a court order to stopping the defendants from using the trademark.

The case has been assigned to Judge Damon R. Leichty and Magistrate Judge Scott J. Frankel in the U.S. District Court of Northern Indiana Case No. 3:25-cv-00161.

Complaint  Order

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