Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-2_06-cv-00193/USCOURTS-ared-2_06-cv-00193-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Personal Injury

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

EASTERN DIVISION

GREGORY BALLMAN PLAINTIFF

vs. CASE NO. 2:06CV193GH

BAYER CROPSCIENCE, US., ET AL. DEFENDANTS

ORDER

Pending before the Court is the motion of defendants Bayer CropScience LP and

Bayer CropScience, Inc. (BCS) to stay the parties’ obligations under Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure 16 and 26 pending transfer to a multidistrict litigation (MDL) court. BCS states

that a stay would be in the interest of justice and judicial economy. 

Plaintiff objects to the request. Plaintiff contends that defendants are trying to get

out of their agreement to move the case along, which included asking that the Court enter

an Initial Scheduling Order (ISO). The parties’ joint request for entry of an ISO was made

in conjunction with defendants’ request for extension of time to answer. 

The Court is persuaded that a stay is warranted and that plaintiff would not be

unduly prejudiced by the stay. 

Therefore, the obligations of the parties under Rules 16 and 26 of the Federal Rules

of Civil Procedure are stayed pending a decision of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict

Ligation on whether to transfer this action to an MDL proceeding. In the event the Judicial

Panel orders transfer to an MDL Court, the stay shall remain in effect until the transferee

court enters a new scheduling order lifting the stay. If the Judicial Panel denies transfer,

BCS is directed to notify the Court promptly of that decision in order to permit entry of a

new ISO.

Accordingly, the motion to stay is granted. 

Case 2:06-cv-00193-GH Document 10 Filed 12/01/06 Page 1 of 2
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IT IS SO ORDERED this 1st day of December, 2006.

_______________________________

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:06-cv-00193-GH Document 10 Filed 12/01/06 Page 2 of 2