Opinion
July 17, 2003
ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that, in the matter of all pending and future litigation involving damages or other relief arising out of the manufacture, sale, distribution and/or use of the diet drugs Redux and Phen-Fen, all complaints that have been filed in the various counties and that are under case management or in discovery or awaiting case management and discovery are transferred from the county of venue to Superior Court, Law Division, Bergen County (Vicinage No. 2), and assigned to Superior Court Judge Charles Walsh;
It is FURTHER ORDERED that venue in all existing such litigation as specified above is transferred to Bergen County (Vicinage No. 2); and
It is FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to N.J. Const. (1947), Art. VI, sec. 2, par. 3, Rule 4:3-2 governing venue in the Superior Court is supplemented and relaxed so that all future complaints seeking damages or other relief arising out of the manufacture, sale, distribution and/or use of the diet drugs Redux and Phen-Fen, no matter where they might be venued, shall be transferred to Bergen County (Vicinage No. 2) and assigned to Judge Walsh; and
It is FURTHER ORDERED that Judge Walsh shall oversee all management and trial issues for such cases and may, in his discretion, return such cases to the original county of venue for disposition; and
It is FURTHER ORDERED that no Special Master may be appointed in this litigation without the express approval of the Chief Justice.
For the Court, /s/ Deborah T. Poritz Chief Justice