In re Zostavax (Zoster Vaccine Live) Prods. Liab. Litig.

Full title: IN RE: ZOSTAVAX (ZOSTER VACCINE LIVE) PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION

Court: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Date published: May 2, 2019

MDL No. 2848 (E.D. Pa. May. 2, 2019)

Opinion

MDL No. 2848 Civil Action No. 2:18-md-02848-HB

05-02-2019

IN RE: ZOSTAVAX (ZOSTER VACCINE LIVE) PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION

Bartle, J.

THIS DOCUMENT RELATES TO:	THIS DOCUMENT RELATES TO:
Loretta Abbo v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20200-HB	John Barrett v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20146-HB
Sylvia Anderson v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20184-HB	Jerome Berkowitz v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20188-HB
John Andrea v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20185-HB	Joseph Bernet v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20189-HB
Joseph Anemone v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20186-HB	Irwin Binder v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20190-HB
Linda Arch v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20126-HB	Diane Bonizzi v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20192-HB
Inez Archie v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20159-HB	Sally Boon v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20137-HB
Deborah Augenti v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20160-HB	Patricia Breault, Individually and asExecutor of the Estate of Shirley Breault, v.Merck & Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & DohmeCorp.; and McKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20198-HB
Esther Bader v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20187-HB	Teresa Brumbaugh v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20147-HB

Cecil and Peggy Campbell v. Merck & Co.,Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20162-HB	Patricia Cutillo v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20197-HB
Rosemarie Case v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20191-HB	Eleanor Dakers v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20254-HB
Sylvane Chiarelli v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20245-HB	Patricia Damico v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20165-HB
Mary Jayne Clark v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20193-HB	Annamarie Defrancis v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20296-HB
Monique Cochran v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20163-HB	Susan Detrie v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20148-HB
Robert J. Coffey v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20131-HB	Wayne and Carol Dickerson v. Merck & Co.,Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20294-HB
Eleanor Cohen v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20246-HB	Philip DiGregorio v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20166-HB
Alicia D. Colon v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20164-HB	Wilbert E. Dixon, Individually and asProposed Administrator of the Estate of GailDixon, v. Merck & Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp &Dohme Corp.; and McKesson Corp., No.2:18-cv-20149-HB
Richard Conroy v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20213-HB	Elizabeth Durham v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20255-HB
Patricia Corrao v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20139-HB	Gloria Eaton v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20128-HB
Anthony Cretacci v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20302-HB	Stephen Ehrlich v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20206-HB
Salvatore and Viola Croce v. Merck & Co.,Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20252-HB

Joseph Engolia v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20167-HB	F. Joyce Grasby v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20260-HB
Valentina Falco v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20256-HB	Debbie Guerrero v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20261-HB
Adamilta Figueroa-Lerner v. Merck & Co.,Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20257-HB	Roland Halle v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20129-HB
Judy Fischer v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20168-HB	Joyce Helman v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20263-HB
Marleen and George Flanders v. Merck &Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20292-HB	Mary Higdon v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20152-HB
David Fontaine v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20216-HB	Helen Hoffman v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20180-HB
Patricia Frazier v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20210-HB	Janette Holmes v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:19-cv-20000-HB
	Stephen Hopkins v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20264-HB
Donald Galloway and Conceita Pittman v.Merck & Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & DohmeCorp.; and McKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20258-HB	Beth Horowitz v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20207-HB
Sharon Godwin v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20151-HB	Maryann Intagliata v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20182-HB
Marion Graham Jr. v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20133-HB	Shirley Jackson v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20247-HB
	Shirley Jarvis v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20154-HB

Christine and Theodore Jenkins v. Merck &Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20267-HB	Frances Lane v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20239-HB
Damaris Jimenez v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20268-HB	Joann Leavitt v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20285-HB
Mike Jones v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20269-HB	Vernon Lee v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:19-cv-20004-HB
Jerome Kaufman v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20221-HB	Anne Levinson v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20249-HB
William Kelshaw Jr. v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20178-HB	Ruth Linteau v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20215-HB
Susan Kennedy v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20223-HB	Delilah Lloyd v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20233-HB
Barbara Kerrigan v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20225-HB	Lillian Macomber v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:19-cv-20024-HB
Phyllis Kidney v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20227-HB	Sharon Maddox v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:19-cv-20005-HB
Ernest Koch v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20130-HB	Ernest and Brenda Malizia v. Merck & Co.,Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20235-HB
Henry Kuhn v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20228-HB	Wanda Martinez v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20156-HB
Sylvia Laguerra v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:19-cv-20003-HB	Loretta Martinez-Favier v. Merck & Co.,Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20250-HB
Cheryl and Paul Lamparella v. Merck &Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20230-HB	Robert Masucci v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:19-cv-20001-HB

Sharon and James McBride v. Merck & Co.,Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20238-HB	Allen Mueller v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20280-HB
Sarah A. McClelland v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20140-HB	Linda Munger v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20282-HB
Karen McCloskey v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:19-cv-20018-HB	Leonard Murrell and Joan Bonsu v. Merck& Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.;and McKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20283-HB
Richard McDonald v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20240-HB	Jacquelyn Nash v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20288-HB
Patricia McKown v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20271-HB	Kenneth and Delores Nicholas v. Merck &Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20179-HB
Tammy Meade v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:19-cv-20014-HB	John Niedzialowski v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:19-cv-20025-HB
James Melton v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:19-cv-20006-HB	Linda Odess v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20211-HB
Edna Middleton v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:19-cv-20007-HB	Helen Oporto v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:19-cv-20002-HB
Debra Moreno v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20212-HB	Nancy Orth v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20291-HB
Ernest Morris v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20134-HB	Richard Ortiz v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:19-cv-20008-HB
Judith K. Morris v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20275-HB	Mary Outlaw v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20172-HB
Rhoda Moziy v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20278-HB

William O'Vitt, Individually and asProposed Administrator of the Estate ofEdna O'Vitt, v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20232-HB	Angelina Riccio v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20208-HB
Rosa Pagan v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20272-HB	Florence Robinson v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20173-HB
Patrick Papas v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20276-HB	Natalie Robinson v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:19-cv-20015-HB
Nancy Perry v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20196-HB	Delores Rorech v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20295-HB
Judith and Gerald Peters v. Merck & Co.,Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20284-HB	Linda Russ v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20243-HB
Francine Pirraglia v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20289-HB	Yvonne Saleme v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20297-HB
Maureen Pons v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20290-HB	James Santo v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20241-HB
Limon Poppell v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20204-HB	Gail Santoro v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20209-HB
Marc Rawitt v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20135-HB	Carol Schasel v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20298-HB
Leonard Reiss v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:19-cv-20010-HB	Rickey Schmidt v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20125-HB
Sondra Reiss v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20293-HB	Garry Schuemann v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20201-HB
	Seymour and Marjorie Schultz v. Merck &Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20300-HB

Joyce Scott v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20301-HB	Judith Snyder v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20273-HB
Robert Seabrooks v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20303-HB	Nicholas Speidel v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:19-cv-20016-HB
Patricia Segnit v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20304-HB	Mary Speigle v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20158-HB
Karney and Patience Seymour v. Merck &Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20195-HB	August Speirs v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20270-HB
Sheila Shea v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20281-HB
Phyllis Sheck v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20279-HB	Joyce Stedman v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:19-cv-20013-HB
Erica Sheid v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20277-HB
Harold Showalter v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20205-HB	Ronald Stichter v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20142-HB
Kathy Silva v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20174-HB	Leo Summermatter v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20234-HB
Peter Skumanich v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20286-HB	Daniel and Kathryn Szymusiak v. Merck &Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20231-HB
Carolyn Snell v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20132-HB	Fatema Tahan v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20229-HB
Carol Snyder v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:19-cv-20012-HB	Donald Thering v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20226-HB

Laurier Trahan v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20222-HB	Martha Watson v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20136-HB
Palma Treschan v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20143-HB	Janet Welty v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20262-HB
Carole Triplett v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20144-HB	Eron and Vernon West West v. Merck &Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20259-HB
Charles and Dorothy Turnbull v. Merck &Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20203-HB	Beatrice Whitener v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20175-HB
Elsa Vega v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20220-HB	Jean Wright v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20181-HB
Anthony Vespa v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20202-HB	Michael Yasso v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20253-HB
Catherine Wade v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20219-HB	Joseph Yepez v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20145-HB
Evelyn Wagner v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20218-HB	Matthew Zarosl, Individually and asProposed Administrator of the Estate ofBarbara Zarosl, v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20194-HB
Betty Warner-Williams v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:19-cv-20017-HB	Felip Zielinski v. Merck & Co., Inc.; MerckSharp & Dohme Corp.; and McKessonCorp., No. 2:18-cv-20177-HB
Edward Waszak v. Merck & Co., Inc.;Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; andMcKesson Corp., No. 2:18-cv-20265-HB

MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF SEPARATE PRETRIAL ORDER NO. 172

Bartle, J.

Before the court is the omnibus motion of defendants Merck & Co. Inc. and Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. ("Merck") to dismiss all claims for fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, and, where applicable, state consumer fraud violations alleged in the 173¹ above actions. While Merck has explicitly identified Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act ("FDUTPA") allegations in its motion, some complaints instead assert violations of other state consumer fraud laws or simply "consumer fraud." See e.g. complaints in Saleme v. Merck & Co. Inc., et al., 2:18-cv-20297 and Yepez v. Merck & Co. Inc., et al., 2:18-cv-20145. These claims are typically described in count IX of the complaints. We are treating the motion as also moving to dismiss these claims because they contain language that is identical to the FDUTPA allegations Merck seeks to dismiss and are based on fraud.

1 The omnibus motion was filed in 177 cases, but parties have since agreed to stipulations of dismissal in Gaines v. Merck & Co. Inc., et al., 2:18-cv-20169; Augustyniak v. Merck & Co. Inc., et al., 2:18-cv-20199; Stewart v. Merck & Co. Inc., et al., 2:18-cv-20236; and Sperling v. Merck & Co. Inc., et al., 2:18-cv-20237.

McKesson Corp. ("McKesson") has also filed motions to dismiss the entire complaint in each of these cases, including an omnibus motion that applies to 92 cases. In some of the above actions, one or both of the motions is unopposed.

We are granting the omnibus motion of Merck to dismiss with prejudice because plaintiffs have failed to plead the above described claims with the particularity required by Rule 9(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as more fully explained in Bentley v. Merck & Co., 2017 WL 2349708 (E.D. Pa. May 30, 2017). See also Erickson v. Merck & Co., 2018 WL 2357273 (M.D. Fla. May 17, 2018); Erickson v. Merck & Co., 2018 WL 3626469 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 22, 2018); and Erickson v. Merck & Co., 2017 WL 9938491 (M.D. Fla. Dec. 8, 2017).² Any attempt to replead, in our view, would be futile.

2 Although the decisions in this district lack consensus regarding whether Rule 9(b) applies to claims of negligent misrepresentation, we will follow Judge Stengel's decision in Hanover Ins. Co. v. Ryan, 619 F. Supp. 2d 127, 142 (E.D. Pa. 2007) and apply the heightened pleading standard.

Each of the 173 complaints is full of boilerplate language unrelated to the individual case and is the antitheses of how a proper federal complaint should be drafted. The one-size-fits-all approach of plaintiffs' counsel produced allegations that are absurd on their face as to every plaintiff. Notably, plaintiffs state that they were induced to obtain a Zostavax vaccination by advertisements that began running years after plaintiffs were inoculated. Plaintiffs' counsel has habitually made such improper allegations, and the court has previously granted motions to dismiss nearly-identical claims with prejudice. See e.g. Everts, et al. v. Merck & Co. Inc., et al., 2:18-cv-20049 (Pretrial Order No. 87); In Re: Zostavax Products Liability Litigation, 2:18-md-2848 (Pretrial Orders Nos. 98-101). Despite the court's strong language chastising plaintiffs' counsel, counsel continues its vexatious behavior. When asked by defendants' counsel to dismiss voluntarily the hundreds of facially absurd claims in light of our repeated dismissals of identical claims, plaintiffs' counsel advised, "Absent a decision and order from the Court dismissing the fraud-based claims in each case, we will not voluntarily dismiss the fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, and consumer fraud claims." We reiterate that such behavior can only be designed to waste the time and resources of the court and opposing counsel.

Defendant McKesson, unlike Merck, has filed motions to dismiss the entire complaint in each of these actions. As we have done with respect to Merck's motion, we are granting McKesson's motions with prejudice as to the fraud and misrepresentation counts for the reason stated above. We are also dismissing the remaining counts without prejudice on the ground that plaintiffs have failed to satisfy the requirements of Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The complaint must contain "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). The deficiencies of the complaints in this regard are manifest and need no further discussion beyond the well-reasoned analysis of Judge James Moody Jr. in Erickson v. Merck & Co., 2018 WL 2357273 (M.D. Fla. May 17, 2018) (dismissing a similar complaint). See also Weiland v. Palm Beach Cty. Sheriff's Office, 792 F.3d 1313 (11th Cir. 2015). We have repeatedly granted motions to dismiss such needlessly verbose complaints and continue to do so here.

While Merck has not filed motions to dismiss any count under Rule 8(a), we are dismissing each of the entire complaints as to it for the reasons asserted by McKesson. Otherwise, there would be one complaint as to McKesson and a different complaint as to Merck in each case. This would create unmitigated confusion. Accordingly, we are acting pursuant to Rule 1 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure which provides that the Rules "should be construed, administered, and employed by the court and the parties to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action and proceeding." Fed. R. Civ. P. 1.

We call ¶ 7 of this court's order to the special attention of plaintiffs' counsel and urge them not to repeat the same behavior exhibited here with respect to any future filings in this Multi-District Litigation.