Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-00066/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-00066-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Personal Injury

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28 This disposition is not designated for publication and may not be cited. 1

Case No. C 07-0066 JF

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO STAY

(JFLC1)

**E-Filed 3/23/2007**

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

SHAHLA JAFERIAN,

 Plaintiff.

 v.

MERCK & COMPANY, INC., et al.,

 Defendants.

Case Number C 07-0066 JF

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO 1

STAY

[re: docket nos. 9, 12]

This case is one of many around the country pertaining to the alleged side-effects of the

drug Vioxx. Defendant Merck & Company, Inc. (“Merck”) moves to stay proceedings pending a

decision on transfer by the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation (“the MDL Panel”). Plaintiff

opposes the motion to stay and moves to remand the case to state court on the basis that this

Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. Merck opposes the motion to remand on the basis that

diversity was destroyed by fraudulent joinder of non-diverse defendants. The Court heard oral

argument on both motions on March 23, 2007. 

Merck provided notice to the MDL Panel of this “tag-along” action on January 12, 2007. 

The MDL Panel issued a conditional transfer order on February 1, 2007. According to Merck, at

Case 5:07-cv-00066-JF Document 27 Filed 03/23/07 Page 1 of 4
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Case No. C 07-0066 JF

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO STAY

(JFLC1)

present there are more than forty-five California cases that involve the same allegedly fraudulent

joinder. Other courts in this district have stayed actions on similar or identical facts pending a

determination by the MDL Panel. See e.g. Memorandum & Order Re. Motion to Remand,

Johnson v. Merck & Co., Inc., Case No. C 05-2881 (N.D.Cal. Mar. 2, 2007). 

 While the motion to remand the case advances strong arguments, these arguments may

be heard by the MDL Panel and by the transferee court in the event transfer is ordered. In light of

this consideration, in view of the rulings of other courts on this issue, and in the interest of

judicial economy and consistency, the Court will stay this action pending a decision on transfer

by the MDL Panel. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: March 23, 2007.

 

JEREMY FOGEL

United States District Judge

Case 5:07-cv-00066-JF Document 27 Filed 03/23/07 Page 2 of 4
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Case No. C 07-0066 JF

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO STAY

(JFLC1)

This Order has been served upon the following persons:

Steven J. Boranian sboranian@reedsmith.com 

Michael Kevin Brown mkbrown@reedsmith.com, emedina@reedsmith.com;

mchoi@reedsmith.com; bjthompson@reedsmith.com 

Kanika D. Corley kcorley@mpplaw.com, 

Rachael Raymon Gilmer rgilmer@levinlaw.com, jsullivan@levinlaw.com 

Amanda Jane Murray amurray@reedsmith.com, gguzik@reedsmith.com 

Brian J. Panish bpanish@gbpwlaw.com, cdesimone@gbpwlaw.com 

Troy Alan Rafferty trafferty@levinlaw.com, balverson@levinlaw.com 

Alison B. Riddell ariddell@reedsmith.com, rallen@reedsmith.com 

Thomas Joonyul Yoo Tyoo@reedsmith.com 

Notice will be delivered by other means to:

Kevin R. Boyle 

Panish Shea & Boyle LLP

11111 Santa Monica Boulevard

Suite 700

Los Angeles, CA 90025

Bruce C. Fishelman 

Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP

100 Wilshire Boulevard

Suite 2100

P.O. Box 2131

Santa Monica, CA 90407-2131

M Helaine Hatter

Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP

The Cochran Firm

100 Wilshire Blvd Fl 21

Santa Monica, CA 90401-1110

Pete Kaufman 

Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Echsner

316 South Baylen Street, Suite 600

Pensacola, FL 32502

Geoffrey S. Wells

Attorney at Law

Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP

100 Wilshire Boulevard

Suite 2100

P.O. Box 2131

Santa Monica, CA 90407-2131

Case 5:07-cv-00066-JF Document 27 Filed 03/23/07 Page 3 of 4
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Case No. C 07-0066 JF

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO STAY

(JFLC1)

Timothy J. Wheeler 

Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP

100 Wilshire Boulevard

Suite 2100

P.O. Box 2131

Santa Monica, CA 90407-2131

Case 5:07-cv-00066-JF Document 27 Filed 03/23/07 Page 4 of 4