Case ID: f-supp-3d_273/html/1369-01.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: EXPRESS SCRIPTS HOLDING COMPANY SECURITIES, DERIVATIVE AND EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT (ERISA) LITIGATION
    MDL No. 2769
    United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.
    April 05, 2017
    
      Before SARAH S. VANCE, Chair, MARJORIE O. RENDELL, CHARLES A. BREYER, LEWIS A. KAPLAN, ELLEN SEGAL HUVELLE,.R. DAVID PROCTOR, CATHERINE D. PERRY, Judges of the Panel.
   ORDER DENYING TRANSFER

SARAH S. VANCE, Chair

Before the Panel: The Express Scripts defendants move under 28 U.S.C. § 1407 to centralize this litigation in the Eastern District of Missouri. This litigation currently consists of four actions pending in two districts, as listed on Schedule A. Plaintiffs in all actions and defendant Anthem, Inc. (Anthem) oppose centralization. In the alternative, plaintiffs in the Southern District of New York actions and Anthem request that district.

On the basis of the papers filed and the hearing session held, we conclude that centralization is not necessary for the convenience of the parties and witnesses or to further the just and efficient conduct of the litigation. The actions unquestionably share common factual allegations concerning ESI’s provision of pharmacy benefit-management services- for- Anthem health plans and, in particular, ESI’s alleged failure to provide competitive pricing for prescription drugs. But where only a minimal number of actions are involved, the proponent of centralization bears a heavier burden to demonstrate that centralization is appropriate. See In re: Transocean Ltd. Sec. Litig. (No. II), 753 F.Supp.2d 1373, 1374 (J.P.M.L. 2010). Moving defendants have failed to do so here.

There are only four actions in this litigation, and three actions already are proceeding as related cases before the same judge in the Southern District of New York.-The Express Scripts defendants, are represented principally by two counsel in the underlying actions, who are well-positioned to coordinate the litigation across the four actions. All responding parties except for movants agree that informal coordination of discovery and pretrial proceedings is practicable and preferable to centralization.

Additionally, the ERISA action raises ease-specific factual and legal issues concerning the extent of overpayments allegedly made by Anthem plan participants, ESI’s and Anthem’s duties under ERISA, and putative classes not implicated in any other action. These case-specific issues are likely to undermine the alleged efficiencies that could be gained from centralizing an already minimal number of actions. '

Although movants believe that the filing of related actions is likely, the mere possibility of additional'actions does not support centralization. See, e.g., In re: California Wine Inorganic Arsenic Levels Prods. Liab. Litig., 109 F.Supp.3d 1362, 1363 (J.P.M.L. 2015).

Given the limited number of involved counsel and actions, and the presence of significant non-overlapping issues in one action, informal coordination of discovery and pretrial motions is preferable to centralization. See, e.g., In re: United Healthcare Servs., Inc., Harvoni (Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir) Health Ins. Litig., 222 F.Supp,3d 1339 (J.P.M.L. 2016); see also Manual for. ■ Complex Litigation, Fourth, § 20.14 (2004).

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the motion for centralization, of these actions is denied.

SCHEDULE A

MDL No. 2769 — IN RE: EXPRESS SCRIPTS HOLDING COMPANY SECURITIES, DERIVATIVE AND EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT (ERISA) LITIGATION

Eastern District of Missouri
GREEN, ET AL. v. PAZ, ET AL., C.A. No. 4:16-01900
Southern District of New York
IN RE EXPRESS SCRIPTS HOLDINGS COMPANY SECURITIES LITIGATION, C.A. No. 1:16-03338
IN RE EXPRESS SCRIPTS/ANTHEM ERISA LITIGATION, C.A. No. 1:16-03399
CARPENTERS PENSION FUND OF WEST VIRGINIA v. BREEN, ET AL., C.A; No. 1:16-07500 
      
       One or more- Panel members who could be members of the putative classes in this litigation have renounced their participation in these classes and have participated in this decision,
     
      
      . Express Scripts Holding Company (ESHC); Express Scripts, Inc, (ESI); and the following alleged current and former officers and directors of ESHC: George Paz, Timothy Went-worth, Eric Slusser, David Queller, James M. Havel, Maura C, Breen, William J, DeLaney, Elder Granger, Nicholas J. LaHowchic, Thomas P. MacMahon, Frank Mergenthaler, Woodrow A, Myers, Jr., Roderick A. Palmore, William L. Roper, Seymour Sternberg, Christopher A. McGinnis, Gary G. Benanav, and Christopher Knibb.
     
      
      . The Southern District of New York court also presidefe over an additional action between Anthem and ESI that likely involves discovery related to the actions ,on the mo-tion,