Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-02489/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-02489-0/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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REED

S

MIT

H LLP

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

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STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS PENDING TRANSFER TO MDL 

Michael K. Brown (SBN 104252) 

Thomas J. Yoo (SBN 175118) 

REED SMITH LLP 

355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 2900 

Los Angeles, CA 90071 

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 94111-3922 

Telephone: 415.543.8700 

Facsimile: 415.391.8269 

Email: sboranian@reedsmith.com

Dana A. Blanton (SBN 232373) 

REED SMITH LLP 

1999 Harrison St., Suite 2400 

Oakland, CA 94610 

Telephone: 510.763.2000 

Facsimile: 510.273.8832 

Email: dblanton@reedsmith.com 

Attorneys for Defendants 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MADELYN DUKE, et al., 

Plaintiffs, 

vs. 

MERCK & CO. INC., et al. 

Defendants. 

No.: 2:06-cv-2489-MCE-KJM 

STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING 

PROCEEDINGS PENDING TRANSFER TO 

VIOXX MDL NO. 1657 

Honorable Morrison C. England 

Case 2:06-cv-02489-MCE -KJM Document 19 Filed 12/21/06 Page 1 of 4
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– 1 – 

STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS PENDING TRANSFER TO MDL 

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

THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, PLAINTIFFS AND DEFENDANT, THROUGH 

THEIR ATTORNEYS, FILE THIS STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER. 

This case, Madelyn Duke, et al. v. Merck & Co., Inc., et al., Case Number 2:06-cv-02489-

MCE-KJM, was filed in state court on September 5, 2006 and removed to this Court on November 8, 

2006. No discovery has been conducted or scheduled. 

On November 10, 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 expects the JPML to issue a 

conditional transfer order that includes this case in the next few weeks. 

Plaintiffs do not oppose the transfer of this case to the Vioxx MDL. 

In light of the pending transfer of this case to the Vioxx MDL, the parties respectfully 

request that all proceedings be stayed so as to allow the JPML to rule on transfer of this tag along 

action. 

/ / / 

/ / / 

/ / / 

/ / / 

/ / / 

/ / / 

Case 2:06-cv-02489-MCE -KJM Document 19 Filed 12/21/06 Page 2 of 4
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STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS PENDING TRANSFER TO MDL 

SO STIPULATED. 

Dated: December 19, 2006 

REED SMITH LLP 

By: /s/ Dana A. Blanton 

Dana A. Blanton 

Attorney for Defendant 

MERCK & CO., INC. 

Dated: December 18, 2006 

KERSHAW CUTTER & RATINOFF LLP 

By: /s/ David E. Smith 

David E. Smith 

Attorney for Plaintiffs 

Case 2:06-cv-02489-MCE -KJM Document 19 Filed 12/21/06 Page 3 of 4
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STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS PENDING TRANSFER TO MDL 

ORDER

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

Court. 

A joint status conference statement is to be filed by the parties not later than one hundred 

twenty (120) days from the date of this order unless this matter is transferred to the Vioxx MDL 

prior to that date. 

DATED: December 21, 2006 

__________________________________ 

MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 2:06-cv-02489-MCE -KJM Document 19 Filed 12/21/06 Page 4 of 4