Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-02389/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-02389-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:6901 Resource &amp; Recovery Act

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REED

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MIT

H LLP

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

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STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS 

Michael K. Brown (SBN 104252) 

Thomas J. Yoo (SBN 175118) 

REED SMITH LLP 

355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 2900 

Los Angeles, CA 90071-1514 

Telephone: 213.457.8000 

Facsimile: 213.457.8080 

Email: mkbrown@reedsmith.com

tyoo@reedsmith.com

Steven J. Boranian (SBN 174183) 

REED SMITH LLP 

Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 2000 

San Francisco, CA 94111 

Telephone: (415) 543-8700 

Facsimile: (415) 391-8269 

Email: sboranian@reedsmith.com

Andrea McDonald-Hicks (SBN 2198316) 

REED SMITH LLP 

1999 Harrison Street, Suite 2400 

Oakland, CA 94612 

Telephone: (510) 763-2000 

Facsimile: (510) 273-8832 

Email: amcdonald-hicks@reedsmith.com

Attorneys for Defendant 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

ANDREW GARRICK and VEL GARRICK, 

Plaintiffs, 

vs. 

MERCK & COMPANY, INC., a New Jersey 

Corporation; MCKESSON CORPORATION, 

and DOE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES 1 

through 50, inclusive; DOE PHARMACIES 51 

through 100, inclusive; DOES 101 through 200, 

inclusive, 

Defendants. 

No.: 2:06-cv-00281-LKK-JFM

STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING 

PROCEEDINGS PENDING TRANSFER 

TO IN RE VIOXX PRODUCTS LIABILITY 

LITIGATION, MDL NO. 1657

Case 2:02-cv-02389-LKK -DAD Document 176 Filed 03/02/06 Page 1 of 4
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– 1 – 

STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS 

TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR 

THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA: 

The parties, by and through their counsel, stipulate to and respectfully request a stay of all 

proceedings in this action pending the transfer of this case to In re VIOXX Products Liability 

Litigation, MDL No. 1657. 

Plaintiffs allege personal injuries attributed to the prescription drug Vioxx®. Defendant 

Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck”) manufactured and distributed Vioxx, but voluntarily withdrew Vioxx 

from the market on September 30, 2004. 

On February 14, 2006, Merck, pursuant to Rule 7.5(c) of the Rules of Procedure of the 

Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“R.P.J.P.M.L.”), provided notice to the MDL Panel of the 

pendency of this “tag-along” action and furnished the MDL Panel with a copy of the docket sheet 

and complaint. Merck requested that the MDL Panel transfer this action to the multidistrict litigation 

known as In re Vioxx Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1657, currently pending in the Eastern 

District of Louisiana, District Judge Eldon Fallon presiding. 

Merck anticipates that the MDL Panel will issue a Conditional Transfer Order that includes 

this action shortly. Plaintiffs have indicated that they will not oppose the Conditional Transfer 

Order. 

A stay will potentially conserve judicial resources and will not cause unfair prejudice to the 

parties. See Rivers v. Walt Disney Co., 980 F. Supp. 1358, 1360 (C.D. Cal. 1997) (stay pending 

MDL transfer decision action would further judicial economy because “any efforts on behalf of this 

Court concerning case management will most likely have to be replicated by the judge that is 

Case 2:02-cv-02389-LKK -DAD Document 176 Filed 03/02/06 Page 2 of 4
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– 2 – 

STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS 

assigned to handle the consolidated litigation”). The parties agree to a stay of this case pending 

transfer to the MDL. 

Based on the foregoing, the parties respectfully request that the Court stay this action 

pending its transfer to MDL No. 1657. 

DATED: February , 2006. 

REED SMITH LLP 

By /s/ 

Andrea McDonald-Hicks 

Attorneys for Defendant 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

DATED: February ___, 2006. 

MARY ALEXANDER & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 

By /s/ 

Mary E. Alexander 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

Andrew Garrick and Vel Garrick 

DATED: February __, 2006. 

MORRIS POLICH & PURDY 

By /s/ 

Kanika Corley 

Attorney for Defendant 

McKesson Corp. 

Case 2:02-cv-02389-LKK -DAD Document 176 Filed 03/02/06 Page 3 of 4
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STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS 

[PROPOSED] ORDER

Having considered the foregoing stipulation, and good cause appearing therefore, IT IS SO 

ORDERED. 

DATED: March 2, 2006 

/s/Lawrence K. Karlton

Lawrence K. Karlton 

Senior Judge 

Case 2:02-cv-02389-LKK -DAD Document 176 Filed 03/02/06 Page 4 of 4