Case ID: f-supp-3d_138/html/1381-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Sarah S. Vance, Chair", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

IN RE: ZOFRAN (ONDANSETRON) PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION
    MDL No. 2657
    ' United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.
    Oct. 13, 2015.
    
      Before Sarah S. Vaheé, Chair, Marjorie 0. Rendell, Charles R. Breyer, Lewis A. Kaplan, Ellen Segal Huvelle, R. David Proctor, and Catherine D. Perry, Judges of the Panel.
   TRANSFER ORDER

Sarah S. Vance, Chair

Before the Panel: Common defendant GlaxoSmithKline LLC (GSK) moves under 28 U.S.C. § 1407 to centralize pretrial proceedings in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. . The litigation consists of twelve actions listed on Schedule A.

All responding plaintiffs agree that centralization is warranted, but disagree about the most appropriate transferee district. Plaintiffs variously suggest the Northern District of Alabama, the Northern District of California, the Southern District of Illinois, the Eastern District of Louisiana, the District , of Massachusetts, or the Northern District of Ohio.

After considering the argument of counsel, we find that the actions in this litigation involvé common questions of fact, and that centralization in the District of Massachusetts will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and- efficient conduct of the litigation. These actions share factual questions arising from allegations that Zofran and its generic equivalent, a prescription medication for the treatment of nausea, causes birth defects' in children when their mothers ingest the drug while pregnant. Centralization will eliminate duplicative discovery; prevent inconsistent pretrial rulings; and conserve the- resources of the parties, their counsel, and the judiciary.

We are persuaded that the District of Massachusetts is an appropriate transferee district for this litigation. Five actions are pending in this district, four of them be-ifore Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV, including the first-filed action. Boston, Massachusetts, provides an easily accessible district for the parties. Judge Saylor is an experienced transferee judge who we are confident will steer this litigation on a prudent course. - -

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the actions listed on Schedule A are transferred to the District of Massachusetts, and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the Honorable F. Dennis Saylor, IV, for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings.

SCHEDULE A

MDL No. 2657 — IN RE: ZOFRAN (ON-DANSETRON) PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION

Northern District of Alabama
Hunter, et al. v. GlaxoSmithKline PLC, et al, C.A. No. 2:15-00544
Ragland v. GlaxoSmithKline LLC, C.A. No. 2:15-01053 ' . '
'Southern District of Alabama
Roberts v. GlaxoSmithKline LLC, C.A. No. 1:15-00320
Eastern District of Arkansas
Cox, et al. v. GlaxoSmithKline LLC, et al, C.A. No. 4:15-00284
Eastern District of Louisiana
Alexander v. GlaxoSmithKlirie LLC, C.A. No. 2:15-02323
Western District of Louisiana
Coughlin, et al. % GlaxoSmithKline LLC, C.A. No. 6:15-01815
District of Massachusetts
LeClair v. GlaxoSmithKline LLC, C.A. No. 1:15-10429
Duong v. GlaxoSmithKline, LLC, C.A. No. 1:15-11627
District of Montana
Marlenee, et al. v. GlaxoSmithKline LLC, C.A. No. 1:15-00026
District of New Jersey
Mandoyan, et al. v. GlaxoSmithKline LLC, et al, C.A. No. 2:15-04536
Northern District of Ohio
Regan, et al. v. GlaxoSmithKline LLC, C.A. No. 3:15-01166
Eastern District of Texas
Shonkwiler v. GlaxoSmithKline, LLC, C.A. No. 5:15-00034 
      
      . The Panel has been informed of 42 additional related federal actions, pending in 22 district courts. These actions and any other related federal actions are potential tag-along actions. See Panel Rules.1.1(h), 7.1, and 7.2.