Shilpi Nama
On 28th April, 2025, Court of the United States of America found cartoon dragon watermarks on every page of the complaint, leading it to reject all pleadings in the case. Specifically, the complaint bore repeated illustrations of a cartoon dragon—an animated, blue-suited figure that serves as the official logo of Dragon Lawyers PC, the law firm representing the plaintiff in the matter.
The case, filed in the Western District of Michigan, prompted strong criticism from Magistrate Judge Ray Kent, who found the use of the dragon imagery to be wholly inappropriate for the solemn proceedings of a federal court. “The use of the dragon logo is not only distracting, but also juvenile and inappropriate,” Judge Kent stated in his formal opinion. He emphasized the decorum expected in legal submissions, curtly noting, “The Court is not a cartoon.”
Judge Kent invoked Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f), which permits a court to “strike from a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter.” Applying that authority, he ruled that the inclusion of the cartoon dragon fell within this category of impermissible material.
Accordingly, the court issued a formal order stating that the plaintiff’s file (ECF No. 1) has been STRICKEN. The plaintiff was instructed to submit an amended complaint no later than May 5, 2025. This revised filing must exclude any depiction of the cartoon dragon but may retain the substantive legal claims originally asserted.
Further, the court explicitly warned the plaintiff and her legal representatives against including “any more documents that contain the cartoon dragon or any other offensive material” in future submissions. This directive underscores the judiciary’s expectation that all court documents maintain a level of professionalism and seriousness befitting the legal system.
Case Name: Jane Doe No. 2 v. Clinton County, et al.,
Case Number: 1:25-cv-368
Bench: Justice Ray Kent
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