Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 18-5215 SECTION "L" (1) CIVIL ACTION NO. 18-5227 SECTION "L" (5) CIVIL ACTION NO. 18-5259 SECTION "L" (2) CIVIL ACTION NO. 18-5206 SECTION "L" (2) CIVIL ACTION NO. 18-5242 SECTION "L" (2)
06-18-2018
PLAQUEMINES PARISH v. EXCHANGE OIL & GAS CORP. ET AL PLAQUEMINES PARISH v. GREAT SOUTHERN OIL & GAS CO., INC., ET AL PLAQUEMINES PARISH v. PALM ENERGY OFFSHORE, L.L.C., ET AL JEFFERSON PARISH ET AL v. DESTIN OPERATING COMPANY, INC. ET AL JEFFERSON PARISH ET AL v. EQUITABLE PETROLEUM CORPORATION, ET AL
ORDER & REASONS
Before the Court are Defendants' motions to stay pending MDL determination. Other parties have responded in opposition. Considering the parties' briefs and the applicable law, the Court issues the following Order & Reasons.
Considering the motion pending before the JMPL and set for discussion on July 26, 2018, this Court has determined that it is in the best interest of the parties and judicial economy to stay the proceedings. "Whether or not to grant a stay is within the Court's discretion and a stay is appropriate when it serves the interests of judicial economy and efficiency." Louisiana Stadium & Exposition Dist. v. Fin. Guar. Ins. Co., 2009 WL 926982 (E.D. La. Apr. 2, 2009). It is not uncommon for Courts to stay cases pending a decision by the JMPL. See e.g., Cajun Offshore Charters, LLC v. BP Products N. Am., Inc., 2010 WL 2160292 (E.D. La. May 25, 2010).
Here, considering the possibility of the creation of an MDL which would coordinate the cases before a single judge, moving forward in the case would likely "waste . . . judicial resources [because] the Court would have to spend time familiarizing itself with the intricacies of a case involving complex financial transactions that will ultimately be heard by another judge." Louisiana Stadium, 2009 WL 926982, at *1.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that the motions to stay pending MDL determination are hereby GRANTED. Additionally, all other motions and deadlines are stayed.
New Orleans, Louisiana, this 18th day of June, 2018.
/s/_________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE