Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 12-15685
05-03-2013
PREMIER TOOL & DIE CAST CORPORATION and PREMIER TOOL & DIE CAST CORPORATION GROUP HEALTH PLAN, Plaintiffs, v. BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN, Defendant.
HON. GEORGE CARAM STEEH
ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFFS' SEALED
MOTION FOR CONSOLIDATION (DOC. # 13)
Before the court is plaintiffs' motion for consolidation of the instant case with nine related cases or-alternatively-to reassign this case to Judge Roberts as a companion to other, older cases on her docket. All of the other courts to consider this request have denied the motion for the reasons that they are without the authority to order the consolidation, as the other cases are assigned to different courts, or order reassignment absent the consent of Judge Roberts.
See, e.g., Judge Friedman's order of February 12, 2013 in Terryberry Company, L.L.C., et al. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, # 12-CV-15612 (Doc. # 19) (collecting cases).
While it appears that there are many potential benefits of a limited pre-trial consolidation, there are alternate ways of scheduling discovery and motion deadlines in this matter in order to realize the benefits of pretrial activities in related matters. Given the orders already issued in at least four of the pending cases, the court will likewise DENY the motion at this juncture.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
__________________________
GEORGE CARAM STEEH
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Copies of this Order were served upon attorneys of record on
May 3, 2013, by electronic and/or ordinary mail.