Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02240/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02240-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 245
Nature of Suit: Real Property Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Tort/Non-Motor Vehicle

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STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCES PENDING RESOLUTION OF 

MDL TRANSFER 

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) 

R. Euna Kim (SBN 222141) 

REED SMITH LLP 

Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 2000 

San Francisco, CA 94111 

Telephone: (415) 543-8700 

Facsimile: (415) 391-8269 

Email: sboranian@reedsmith.com

ekim@reedsmith.com

Kevin M. Hara (SBN 221604) 

REED SMITH LLP 

1999 Harrison St., Suite 2400 

Oakland, CA 94612 

Telephone: 510.763.2000 

Facsimile: 510.273.8832 

Email: khara@reedsmith.com

Attorneys for Defendant 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

CHRISTOPHER LEESON, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

MERCK & COMPANY, INC., PFIZER, INC., 

and MCKESSON CORPORATION and DOES 1 

through 100, inclusive, 

Defendants. 

No.: 2:05-cv-02240-WBS-PAN 

STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER 

STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCES 

PENDING RESOLUTION OF MDL 

TRANSFER 

Honorable William B. Shubb 

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– 1 – 

STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCES PENDING RESOLUTION OF 

MDL TRANSFER 

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

THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, PARTIES, THROUGH THEIR ATTORNEYS, 

FILE THIS STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER. 

This action, Christopher Leeson v. Merck & Co., Inc., et al., Case Number 2:05-cv-02240-

WBS-PAN, was filed in state court on September 19, 2005 and removed to this Court on November 

4, 2005. 

No discovery has been conducted or scheduled. 

On December 1, 2005, plaintiff filed a Motion to Remand. On December 12, 2005, Merck 

filed a Motion to Stay Proceedings Pending the Transfer Decision of the Judicial Panel on 

Multidistrict Litigation (“JPML”). The Court heard oral argument for both Motions on January 23, 

2006. On January 27, 2006, this Court denied plaintiff’s Motion for Remand and granted Merck’s 

Motion to Stay pending the transfer decision of the JPML. 

On November 8, 2005, pursuant to Rule 7.5(c) of the Rules of Procedure of the Judicial 

Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, Merck notified the JPML of the pendency of this action. On 

November 10, 2005, pursuant to Rule 7.5(c) of the Rules of Procedure of the Judicial Panel on 

Multidistrict Litigation, Pfizer provided notice to the JPML of the pendency of this “tag-along” 

action for MDL-1699. On December 20, 2005, this action was conditionally transferred to the 

multidistrict litigation known as In re Vioxx Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1657 (“MDL 

No. 1657”), currently pending in the Eastern District of Louisiana, District Judge Eldon Fallon 

presiding and to the multidistrict litigation known as In re Bextra and Celebrex Marketing; Sales 

Practices and Products Liability, MDL No. 1699 (“MDL No. 1699”), currently pending in the 

Northern District of California, District Judge Charles R. Breyer presiding. 

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STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCES PENDING RESOLUTION OF 

MDL TRANSFER 

On December 28, 2005, the plaintiff timely filed its Notice of its Opposition to the transfer of 

this action to MDL No. 1657 and MDL No. 1699 and its opposition to the conditional transfer of this 

action on January 17, 2006. 

The JPML has not yet ruled on plaintiff's opposition to transfer of this action to MDL No. 

1657 and MDL No. 1699. In the interim, this action has been stayed by this Court pending the 

JPML's transfer decision. 

Based on the foregoing, the parties respectfully request that further Joint Status Reports be 

postponed and additional Discovery Conferences be removed from the calendar until the JPML rules 

on plaintiff's opposition to conditional transfer of this action to MDL No. 1657 and MDL No. 1699. 

SO STIPULATED. 

Dated: April 7 , 2006 

REED SMITH LLP 

By: __/s/ Kevin M. Hara_______________

Kevin M. Hara 

Attorney for Defendant 

MERCK & CO., INC. 

Dated: April ___, 2006 

CLAYEO C. ARNOLD, 

A Professional Law Corporation 

By: _______________________________

Kirk Wolden 

Attorney for Plaintiff 

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STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCES PENDING RESOLUTION OF 

MDL TRANSFER 

Dated: April ___, 2006 

TUCKER, ELLIS & WEST, 

Attorneys at Law 

By: _______________________________

Tae Kim 

 Attorneys for Defendant Pfizer, Inc. 

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– 4 – 

STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCES PENDING RESOLUTION OF 

MDL TRANSFER 

ORDER

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED the above terms of this Stipulation are approved by this Court. 

Dated: April 10, 2006 

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