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Automated Pet Care Products, LLC v. PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation - 2:26-cv-10480

Automated Pet Care Products, LLC v. PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation (Case No. 2:26-cv-10480), filed on Feb 11, 2026 in the District Court, E.D. Michigan involving patent infringement. This case involves patent infringement claims between the parties. Explore details about the litigants, key filings, and major docket updates.

Case Details

Case Number
2:26-cv-10480
Filing Date
Feb 11, 2026
Cause of Action
Patent Infringement
Status
-
Court
District Court, E.D. Michigan
Nature of Suit
Patent

Parties Involved

The following parties are involved in this case, with their respective legal representatives for the case.

NameRepresented By
Automated Pet Care Products, LLC -
Chris Madeiras -
PurLife Brands, Inc. -

Patents Involved

Patents not found - set an alert to get notified when patents are added.

Docket Entries

The Docket Entries section provides a chronological list of all significant filings and court actions in this case.

DateDocket EntryType

Set alerts for critical docket entry

Feb 11, 2026TRANSFERRED COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 402, receipt number CCANDC-17375348.). Filed byAutomated Pet Care Products, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 to Complaint, # 2 Exhibit 2 to Complaint, # 3 Exhibit 3 to Complaint, # 4 Exhibit 4 to Complaint, # 5 Exhibit 5 to Complaint, # 6 Exhibit 6 to Complaint, # 7 Civil Cover Sheet)(Ghajar, Bobby) (Filed on 7/22/2022) [Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 07/22/2022)PACER Document
Feb 11, 2026AMENDED COMPLAINT against Chris Madeiras, PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation. Filed byAutomated Pet Care Products, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1-8 to Amended Complaint)(Ghajar, Bobby) (Filed on 9/22/2022)[Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 09/22/2022)PACER Document
Feb 11, 2026AMENDED COMPLAINT refiled per Dkt 38 Order against Automated Pet Care Products, LLC. Filed byAutomated Pet Care Products, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - 185 Patent, # 2 Exhibit 2 - 889 Patent, # 3 Exhibit 3 - 502 Patent, # 4 Exhibit 4 - Initial Claim Chart for U.S. Patent 185, # 5 Exhibit 5 - Initial Claim Chart for U.S. Patent 889, # 6 Exhibit 6 - Copy of cease letter, # 7 Exhibit 7 - Copy of response to cease letter, # 8 Exhibit 8 - Initial Claim Chart for U.S. Patent 502)(Ghajar, Bobby) (Filed on 1/13/2023) [Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 01/13/2023)PACER Document
Feb 11, 2026SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT against Chris Madeiras, PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation. Filed by Automated Pet Care Products, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Copy of 185 Patent, # 2 Exhibit 2 - Copy of '502 Patent, # 3 Exhibit 3 - Initial Claim Chart for '185, # 4 Exhibit 4 - Cease Letter, # 5 Exhibit 5 - Response Letter, # 6 Exhibit 6 - Initial Claim Chart for '502)(Ghajar, Bobby) (Filed on 5/3/2023) Modified on 5/4/2023 (jml, COURT STAFF). [Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 05/03/2023)PACER Document
Feb 11, 2026Defendants' ANSWER to Amended Complaint (Second Amended Complaint) with Jury Demand, COUNTERCLAIM against Automated Pet Care Products, LLC, Jacob Zuppke byChris Madeiras, PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation. (McCaulley, Richard) (Filed on 5/17/2023) [Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 05/17/2023)PACER Document
Feb 11, 2026NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal of Counter-Claim Defendant Zuppke by PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation (McCaulley, Richard) (Filed on 6/7/2023) [Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 06/07/2023)PACER Document
Feb 11, 2026First Amended COUNTERCLAIM against Automated Pet Care Products, LLC. Filed by PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation. (McCaulley, Richard) (Filed on 7/31/2023) Modified on 8/1/2023 (jml, COURT STAFF).[Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 07/31/2023)PACER Document
Feb 11, 2026AMENDED COMPLAINT THIRD against Chris Madeiras, PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation. Filed byAutomated Pet Care Products, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Copy of 502 Patent, # 2 Exhibit 2 - Trademark Registration, # 3 Exhibit 3 - Demand Letter, # 4 Exhibit 4 - Correspondence, # 5 Exhibit 5 - Initial Claim Chart for U.S. Patent 502)(Ghajar, Bobby) (Filed on 8/17/2023) [Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 08/17/2023)PACER Document
Feb 11, 2026ORDER TRANSFERRING CASE to the Eastern District of Michigan. Signed by Judge P. Casey Pitts on 2/9/2026. (nmc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/9/2026) [Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261.] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 02/09/2026)PACER Document
Feb 11, 2026Docket Sheet from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261. Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 02/11/2026)PACER Document
Feb 11, 2026TEXT-ONLY NOTICE: This case has been transferred from the Northern Distrcit of California. Pending motions must be refiled on this court's docket by the filing party. Attorneys not admitted to practice in this court must complete the attorney admissions application and be admitted before appearing on this court's docket. All previously filed documents can be accessed on the originating court's docket using PACER. (NAhm)PACER Document
Feb 11, 2026AMENDED COMPLAINT THIRD against Chris Madeiras, PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation. Filed byAutomated Pet Care Products, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Copy of 502 Patent, # 2 Exhibit 2 - Trademark Registration, # 3 Exhibit 3 - Demand Letter, # 4 Exhibit 4 - Correspondence, # 5 Exhibit 5 - Initial Claim Chart for U.S. Patent 502)(Ghajar, Bobby) (Filed on 8/17/2023) [Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 08/17/2023)Attachment
Feb 11, 2026AMENDED COMPLAINT THIRD against Chris Madeiras, PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation. Filed byAutomated Pet Care Products, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Copy of 502 Patent, # 2 Exhibit 2 - Trademark Registration, # 3 Exhibit 3 - Demand Letter, # 4 Exhibit 4 - Correspondence, # 5 Exhibit 5 - Initial Claim Chart for U.S. Patent 502)(Ghajar, Bobby) (Filed on 8/17/2023) [Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 08/17/2023)Attachment
Feb 11, 2026AMENDED COMPLAINT THIRD against Chris Madeiras, PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation. Filed byAutomated Pet Care Products, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Copy of 502 Patent, # 2 Exhibit 2 - Trademark Registration, # 3 Exhibit 3 - Demand Letter, # 4 Exhibit 4 - Correspondence, # 5 Exhibit 5 - Initial Claim Chart for U.S. Patent 502)(Ghajar, Bobby) (Filed on 8/17/2023) [Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 08/17/2023)Attachment
Feb 11, 2026AMENDED COMPLAINT THIRD against Chris Madeiras, PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation. Filed byAutomated Pet Care Products, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Copy of 502 Patent, # 2 Exhibit 2 - Trademark Registration, # 3 Exhibit 3 - Demand Letter, # 4 Exhibit 4 - Correspondence, # 5 Exhibit 5 - Initial Claim Chart for U.S. Patent 502)(Ghajar, Bobby) (Filed on 8/17/2023) [Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 08/17/2023)Attachment
Feb 11, 2026AMENDED COMPLAINT THIRD against Chris Madeiras, PurLife Brands, Inc. d/b/a Smarty Pear, a Delaware corporation. Filed byAutomated Pet Care Products, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Copy of 502 Patent, # 2 Exhibit 2 - Trademark Registration, # 3 Exhibit 3 - Demand Letter, # 4 Exhibit 4 - Correspondence, # 5 Exhibit 5 - Initial Claim Chart for U.S. Patent 502)(Ghajar, Bobby) (Filed on 8/17/2023) [Transferred from California Northern; Case Number 5:22-cv-04261] Modified on 2/11/2026 (NAhm). (Entered: 08/17/2023)Attachment