867 F. Supp. 2d 1349
J.P.M.L.2012Background
- Moving plaintiffs seek 28 U.S.C. § 1407 centralization of MDL Nos. 2349, 2350, 2351 in Eastern District of Michigan before Judge Battani.
- MDL 2349 involves instrument panel clusters; MDL 2350 involves fuel senders; MDL 2351 involves heating control panels.
- Actions and potentially-related actions are concentrated in Eastern District of Michigan, with one action in Puerto Rico in each docket.
- All parties agree centralization is appropriate; concerns focus on number of MDLs and transferee handling.
- Panel considers whether to create three new MDLs or transfer all actions to MDL No. 2311; Judge Battani already presides over related MDL 2311.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether to create three new MDLs or transfer to MDL 2311 | Moving plaintiffs favor three new MDLs | Some oppose multiple MDLs, prefer unified handling | All actions should be included in MDL No. 2311 |
| Whether all actions should be transferred to Judge Battani in MDL 2311 | Consolidation under Battani promotes efficiency | No specific counterargument provided in decision | Transfer to Judge Battani in MDL 2311 approved |
| Whether centralization under the transferor approach benefits efficiency and consistency | Centralization reduces duplicative discovery and inconsistent rulings | Risk of inappropriate broad consolidation; need for structured pretrial management | MDL 2311 structure can address coordination while maintaining efficiency |
Key Cases Cited
- In re Regions Morgan Keegan Sec., Derivative & ERISA Litig., 598 F.Supp.2d 1379 (J.P.M.L. 2009) (district court discretion on coordination/consolidation of actions)
- In re Enron Corp. Sec., Derivative & ERISA Litig., 196 F.Supp.2d 1375 (J.P.M.L. 2002) (transferee court may use multiple pretrial techniques)
- In re American Medical Sys., Inc., Pelvic Repair Sys. Prods. Liab. Litig., 844 F.Supp.2d 1359 (J.P.M.L. 2012) (avoidance of unwarranted consolidation when similar conspiracies exist)
- In re Automotive Wire Harness Sys. Antitrust Litig., 844 F.Supp.2d 1367 (J.P.M.L. 2012) (relatedness of related actions within MDL framework)