Opinion
MDL No. 1971.
August 12, 2008.
Before JOHN G. HEYBURN II, Chairman, J. FREDERICK MOTZ, ROBERT L. MILLER, JR., KATHRYN H. VRATIL and DAVID R. HANSEN, Judges of the Panel.
ORDER DENYING TRANSFER
Before the entire Panel: Plaintiffs in all three actions have jointly moved, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings of this litigation in the District of New Jersey. All responding defendants agree that centralization is appropriate. Defendant MTD Products, Inc., supports centralization in the District of New Jersey, while the nine other responding defendants suggest centralization in the Southern District of Illinois or, alternatively, the Northern District of Illinois.
Sears, Roebuck and Co.; Deere Co.; Tecumseh Products Co.; Briggs Stratton Corp.; Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A.; The Toro Co.; Electrolux Home Products, Inc.; The Kohler Co.; and Husqvarna Outdoor Products, Inc.
This litigation presently consists of three actions listed on Schedule A and pending in three districts as follows: one action each in the Northern District of California, the Southern District of Illinois and the District of New Jersey.
The Panel has been notified of one additional related action.
On the basis of the papers filed and hearing session held, we are not persuaded that Section 1407 centralization would serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses or further the just and efficient conduct of this litigation. While these putative statewide class actions share some questions of fact relating to alleged fraudulent marketing of lawnmower engines, movants have failed to convince us that those questions are sufficiently complex and/or numerous to justify Section 1407 transfer at this time. Alternatives to transfer exist that may minimize whatever possibilities there might be of duplicative discovery and/or inconsistent pretrial rulings. See, e.g., In re Eli Lilly and Co. (Cephalexin Monohydrate) Patent Litigation, 446 F.Supp. 242, 244 (J.P.M.L. 1978); see also Manual for Complex Litigation, Fourth, § 20.14 (2004).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the motion, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, for centralization of these three actions is denied.
SCHEDULE A
Northern District of California
Carl Phillips v. Sears, Roebuck Co., et al., C.A. No. 4:08-2671
Southern District of Illinois
Ronnie Phillips, et al. v. Sears Roebuck Co., et al., C.A. No. 3:06-412
District of New Jersey
William Fritz v. Sears, Roebuck Co., et al., C.A. No. 3:08-2545