Case: Zou v. Grasso

2:25-cv-10315 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: Feb. 3, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary, while we research the case.)

On February 3, 2025, Plaintiffs filed this lawsuit in the Eastern District of Michigan against University of Michigan President Santa Ono and other University of Michigan administrators. Plaintiffs were five Ann Arbor community members who had been issued "full-campus trespass bans" following their participation in on-campus protests between 2024-2025. Filing under  42 U.S.C. § 1983, they sought to challenge these bans as infringements on their rights to free speech, substantive due process, and procedural due process. Plaintiffs sought to enjoin defendants from issuing and enforcing trespass bans, and to enjoin the University's "anti-disruption" policy implemented in the wake of the protests.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69604623/parties/zou-v-grasso/


show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

2:25-cv-10315

Verified Complaint

Zou v. Ono

Feb. 3, 2025

Feb. 3, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69604623/zou-v-grasso/

Last updated Nov. 22, 2025, 2:56 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed by All Plaintiffs against All Defendants. Plaintiff requests summons issued. Receipt No: AMIEDC-10102523 - Fee: $ 405. County of 1st Plaintiff: Washtenaw - County Where Action Arose: Washtenaw - County of 1st Defendant: Washtenaw. [Previously dismissed case: No] [Possible companion case(s): None] (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit A - Declarations of Plaintiffs, # 3 Exhibit B - Trespass Policy, # 4 Exhibit C - Zou Trespass Form, # 5 Exhibit D - DeRidder Email, # 6 Exhibit E - Zou Objection Denial Letter, # 7 Exhibit F - Zou Appeal Decision Letter, # 8 Exhibit G - Kozler Trespass Form, # 9 Exhibit H - Elliott Trespass Form, # 10 Exhibit I - Grant Trespass Form, # 11 Exhibit J - Grant Objection Denial Letter, # 12 Exhibit K - Grant Appeal Decision Letter, # 13 Exhibit L - Vieira Trespass Form, # 14 Exhibit M - Viera Objection Denial Letter) (Wadood, Ramis) (Entered: 02/03/2025)

1 Index of Exhibits

View on PACER

2 Exhibit A - Declarations of Plaintiffs

View on PACER

3 Exhibit B - Trespass Policy

View on PACER

4 Exhibit C - Zou Trespass Form

View on PACER

5 Exhibit D - DeRidder Email

View on PACER

6 Exhibit E - Zou Objection Denial Letter

View on PACER

7 Exhibit F - Zou Appeal Decision Letter

View on PACER

8 Exhibit G - Kozler Trespass Form

View on PACER

9 Exhibit H - Elliott Trespass Form

View on PACER

10 Exhibit I - Grant Trespass Form

View on PACER

11 Exhibit J - Grant Objection Denial Letter

View on PACER

12 Exhibit K - Grant Appeal Decision Letter

View on PACER

13 Exhibit L - Vieira Trespass Form

View on PACER

14 Exhibit M - Viera Objection Denial Letter

View on PACER

Feb. 3, 2025

Feb. 3, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by All Plaintiffs. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Declaration of Stacie Greskowiak McNulty) (Wadood, Ramis) (Entered: 02/03/2025)

1 Exhibit 1 - Declaration of Stacie Greskowiak McNulty

View on RECAP

Feb. 3, 2025

Feb. 3, 2025

RECAP
3

NOTICE of Appearance by Jack W. Schulz on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Schulz, Jack) (Entered: 02/03/2025)

Feb. 3, 2025

Feb. 3, 2025

4

NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel S. Korobkin on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Korobkin, Daniel) (Entered: 02/03/2025)

Feb. 3, 2025

Feb. 3, 2025

5

NOTICE of Appearance by Bonsitu A. Kitaba on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Kitaba, Bonsitu) (Entered: 02/03/2025)

Feb. 3, 2025

Feb. 3, 2025

6

NOTICE of Appearance by Philip Edwin Mayor on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Mayor, Philip) (Entered: 02/03/2025)

Feb. 3, 2025

Feb. 3, 2025

7

NOTICE of Appearance by Amanda M. Ghannam on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Ghannam, Amanda) (Entered: 02/03/2025)

Feb. 3, 2025

Feb. 3, 2025

10

SUMMONS Issued for * All Defendants * (LGra) (Entered: 02/04/2025)

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

8

NOTICE of Appearance by John C. Philo on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Philo, John) (Entered: 02/04/2025)

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

9

NOTICE of Appearance by Liz Jacob on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Jacob, Liz) (Entered: 02/04/2025)

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

Notice to Parties of Consent of a Civil Action before a Magistrate Judge Option

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

Correction

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

A United States Magistrate Judge of this Court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 636c and FRCP 73. The Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge form is available for download at http://www.mied.uscourts.gov (LGra)

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

A United States Magistrate Judge of this Court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 636c and FRCP 73. The Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge form is available for download at http://www.mied.uscourts.gov (THum)

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

NOTICE of Correction re Notice to Parties of Consent of a Civil Action before a Magistrate Judge Option,. (THum)[Clerk Error, Notice to Parties of Consent of a Civil Action before a Magistrate Judge Option, was previously entered] Modified on 2/4/2025 (THum).

Feb. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025

11

CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. All Defendants. (Wadood, Ramis) [No Green Card Returned Executed] Modified on 2/6/2025 (THum). (Entered: 02/06/2025)

Feb. 6, 2025

Feb. 6, 2025

12

ORDER OF RECUSAL AND REASSIGNING CASE from Magistrate Judge Anthony P. Patti to Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Stafford. (NAhm) (Entered: 02/07/2025)

Feb. 7, 2025

Feb. 7, 2025

13

ORDER REGARDING PROTOCOLS ON FILINGS AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT - Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (CCie) (Entered: 02/11/2025)

Feb. 11, 2025

Feb. 11, 2025

RECAP
14

NOTICE of Appearance by Delaney Ann Barker on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Barker, Delaney) (Entered: 02/12/2025)

Feb. 12, 2025

Feb. 12, 2025

15

NOTICE of Appearance by Ishan Bhabha on behalf of Santa J. Ono, Geoffrey Chatas, Eddie L. Washington, Crystal James. (Bhabha, Ishan) (Entered: 02/19/2025)

Feb. 19, 2025

Feb. 19, 2025

16

NOTICE of Appearance by Lauren J. Hartz on behalf of Santa J. Ono, Geoffrey Chatas, Eddie L. Washington, Crystal James. (Hartz, Lauren) (Entered: 02/19/2025)

Feb. 19, 2025

Feb. 19, 2025

17

NOTICE of Appearance by Brian M. Schwartz on behalf of All Defendants. (Schwartz, Brian) (Entered: 02/21/2025)

Feb. 21, 2025

Feb. 21, 2025

18

NOTICE TO APPEAR REMOTELY: Status Conference set for 2/27/2025 at 12:00 PM before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (DPer) (Entered: 02/24/2025)

Feb. 24, 2025

Feb. 24, 2025

Text-Only Order

Feb. 24, 2025

Feb. 24, 2025

TEXT-ONLY ORDER. The Court orders that:(i) Defendants' time to respond to Plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction is extended to March 12, 2025; (ii) Defendants' time to respond to the complaint is suspended until further order of the court; (iii) a status conference will be held by zoom on February 27, 2025 at noon, at which the court will discuss staying discovery, setting a date for Defendants to respond to the complaint, and such other issues as counsel may wish to raise. Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (DPer)

Feb. 24, 2025

Feb. 24, 2025

19

NOTICE of Appearance by Erika L. Giroux on behalf of All Defendants. (Giroux, Erika) (Entered: 02/25/2025)

Feb. 25, 2025

Feb. 25, 2025

Minute Entry for remote proceedings before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith: Telephonic Status Conference held on 2/27/2025 (Court Reporter: None Present, Not on the Record) (AChu)

Feb. 27, 2025

Feb. 27, 2025

20

STIPULATED ORDER REGARDING PAGE LIMITS FOR RESPONSE AND REPLY BRIEFS - Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (CCie) (Entered: 03/05/2025)

March 5, 2025

March 5, 2025

RECAP
21

RESPONSE to 2 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by Geoffrey Chatas, Crystal James, Santa J. Ono, Eddie L. Washington. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit A - Declaration of Eddie Washington and Exhibits 1-4, # 3 Exhibit B - Declaration of Crystal James and Exhibits 5-9, [STRICKEN] # 4 Exhibit C - Declaration of Paul DeRidder and Exhibits 10-30, # 5 Exhibit D - Declaration of Aron Feltes and Exhibit 31) (Hartz, Lauren) Modified on 4/16/2025 (CCie). (Entered: 03/12/2025)

1 Index of Exhibits

View on PACER

2 Exhibit A - Declaration of Eddie Washington and Exhibits 1-4

View on PACER

3 Exhibit B - Declaration of Crystal James and Exhibits 5-9

View on PACER

5 Exhibit D - Declaration of Aron Feltes and Exhibit 31

View on PACER

March 12, 2025

March 12, 2025

RECAP
22

REPLY to Response re 2 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by All Plaintiffs. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit A -- Declaration of Jonathan Zou, # 3 Exhibit B -- Declaration of Gabriel Vieira, # 4 Exhibit B-1 -- March 17, 2025 Order of Nolle Prosequi, # 5 Exhibit C -- Declaration of Christian Grant, # 6 Exhibit D -- Declaration of Alice Elliott, # 7 Exhibit E -- Defendants' Stipulation Regarding Trespass Ban Modification) (Wadood, Ramis) (Entered: 03/26/2025)

1 Index of Exhibits

View on PACER

2 Exhibit A -- Declaration of Jonathan Zou

View on PACER

3 Exhibit B -- Declaration of Gabriel Vieira

View on PACER

4 Exhibit B-1 -- March 17, 2025 Order of Nolle Prosequi

View on PACER

5 Exhibit C -- Declaration of Christian Grant

View on PACER

6 Exhibit D -- Declaration of Alice Elliott

View on PACER

7 Exhibit E -- Defendants' Stipulation Regarding Trespass Ban Modification

View on PACER

March 26, 2025

March 26, 2025

RECAP
23

STIPULATED ORDER STRIKING DKT. 21-4 AND GRANTING LEAVE TO FILE CORRECTED DOCUMENT - Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (CCie) (Entered: 04/16/2025)

April 16, 2025

April 16, 2025

RECAP
24

EXHIBIT C (Dkt. 21-4) (Corrected) re 21 Response to Motion,, by Geoffrey Chatas, Crystal James, Santa J. Ono, Eddie L. Washington (Hartz, Lauren) (Entered: 04/16/2025)

April 16, 2025

April 16, 2025

25

NOTICE OF IN PERSON HEARING on 2 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction. Motion Hearing set for 5/15/2025 at 11:00 AM before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (HRya) (Entered: 04/29/2025)

April 29, 2025

April 29, 2025

26

MOTION for Withdrawal of Attorney Daniel S. Korobkin by All Plaintiffs. (Korobkin, Daniel) (Entered: 04/30/2025)

April 30, 2025

April 30, 2025

27

MOTION for Withdrawal of Attorney Delaney A. Barker by All Plaintiffs. (Barker, Delaney) (Entered: 04/30/2025)

April 30, 2025

April 30, 2025

28

ORDER granting 26 Motion to Withdraw as Attorney.. Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (KCas) (Entered: 05/01/2025)

May 1, 2025

May 1, 2025

29

ORDER granting 27 Motion to Withdraw as Attorney. Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (KCas) (Entered: 05/01/2025)

May 1, 2025

May 1, 2025

30

CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. All Defendants. (Mayor, Philip) Modified on 5/2/2025 (JBro). [Service/Returned Executed as to Defendants Santa J. Ono and Geoffrey S. Chatas, service date 2/7/25. As to Crystal James service executed on[2/10/25]. No service date listed on green card for Eddie L. Washington. Additional service attached- University of MI-General Counsel [2/7/25] ] (Entered: 05/01/2025)

May 1, 2025

May 1, 2025

Minute Entry for in-person proceedings before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith: Motion Hearing held on 5/15/2025 re 2 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by Gabriel Vieira, Oliver Kozler, Jonathan Zou, Christian Grant, Alice Elliott. Disposition: Motion taken under advisement. (Court Reporter: David Yarbrough) (JHea)

May 15, 2025

May 15, 2025

31

ORDER Directing Parties to Order Transcript from Hearing Held on May 15, 2025. Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (JHea) (Entered: 05/19/2025)

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

32

TRANSCRIPT of Hearing on Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction held on 5/15/2025. (Court Reporter/Transcriber: David B. Yarbrough) (Number of Pages: 70) The parties have 21 days to file with the court and Court Reporter/Transcriber a Redaction Request of this transcript. If no request is filed, the transcript may be made remotely electronically available to the public without redaction after 90 days. Redaction Request due 6/11/2025. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 6/23/2025. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 8/19/2025. Transcript may be viewed at the court public terminal or purchased through the Court Reporter/Transcriber before the deadline for Release of Transcript Restriction. After that date, the transcript is publicly available. (Yarbrough, David) (Entered: 05/21/2025)

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

33

NOTICE by All Plaintiffs Plaintiffs' Notice of Changed Facts (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Order of Nolle Prosequi) (Wadood, Ramis) (Entered: 05/22/2025)

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

34

NOTICE by All Defendants Notice of Changed Facts (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B) (Hartz, Lauren) (Entered: 05/30/2025)

May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

35

NOTICE by All Defendants Notice of Errata to Transcript of May 15, 2025 Preliminary Injunction Hearing (Hartz, Lauren) (Entered: 05/30/2025)

May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

36

NOTICE by All Plaintiffs re 32 Transcript,,, Notice of Errata (Wadood, Ramis) (Entered: 06/12/2025)

June 12, 2025

June 12, 2025

RECAP
37

Appear*

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

38

Appear*

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Text-Only Order AND ~Util - Set Deadlines/Hearings

Aug. 5, 2025

Aug. 5, 2025

41

Scheduling Order

Aug. 13, 2025

Aug. 13, 2025

42

Voluntary Dismissal

Aug. 20, 2025

Aug. 20, 2025

43

Answer to Complaint

Aug. 22, 2025

Aug. 22, 2025

44

Appearance

Aug. 27, 2025

Aug. 27, 2025

45

Civil Case - Complaint, Amended

Aug. 27, 2025

Aug. 27, 2025

46

Stipulation and Order AND ~Util - Set Deadlines/Hearings

Sept. 8, 2025

Sept. 8, 2025

Text-Only Order

Sept. 12, 2025

Sept. 12, 2025

47

Answer to Amended Complaint

Sept. 24, 2025

Sept. 24, 2025

48

Protective Order

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

49

Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction

Sept. 29, 2025

Sept. 29, 2025

50

Appearance

Nov. 11, 2025

Nov. 11, 2025

Case Details

State / Territory:

Michigan

Case Type(s):

Speech and Religious Freedom

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 3, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Other Dockets:

Eastern District of Michigan 2:25-cv-10315

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket