Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-01315/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-01315-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1391 Personal Injury

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARGARET SHEARMAN,

Plaintiff, No. C 06-1311 PJH

v. ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S 

REQUESTS FOR STAYS PENDING 

MDL TRANSFERS; DENYING

ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS, WITHOUT PREJUDICE MOTIONS TO

L.P., et al., DISMISS

Defendants.

_______________________________/

This document also relates to:

Niemann v. Astrazeneca Pharm. et al. (C 06-1315 PJH)

Naramore v. Astrazeneca Pharm. et al. (C 06-1394 PJH)

Birkner v. Astrazeneca Pharm. et al. (C 06-1403 PJH)

Gaiman v. Astrazeneca Pharm. et al. (C 06-1500 PJH)

Coppola v. Astrazeneca Pharm. et al. (C 06-1531 PJH)

_______________________________/

Before the court are defendant Astrazeneca’s August 1, 2006 administrative motions

to stay the above cases pending transfer by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation

(“JPML”) to MDL-1596 and MDL-1769, plaintiffs’ motions for voluntary dismissal of the

actions, noticed for hearing September 6, 2006, and Astrazeneca’s motion to dismiss the

complaint in Coppola v. Astrazeneca Pharm. et al. (C 06-1531 PJH), noticed for hearing

August 16, 2006.

The above six cases involve claims related both to the drug Seroquel, and to the

drug Zyprexa, and name both Astrazeneca and Eli Lilly as defendants. On July 6, 2006,

the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“JPML”) issued a Transfer Order establishing

MDL-1769, titled In re Seroquel Products Liability Litigation, and transferred ninety-two

federal actions to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. 

Case 4:06-cv-01315-PJH Document 21 Filed 08/08/06 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Although the above six cases were not included in the cases transferred on July 6, 2006,

because they had been filed later than those cases identified to the MDL at the time of the

transfer, they were identified to the JPML as potential tag-along actions.

Subsequently, on August 2, 2006, the JPML issued an order conditionally

transferring the Zyprexa-related claims to the United States District Court for the Eastern

District of New York, MDL-1596, In re Zyprexa Products Liability Litigation. As for the

Seroquel-related claims, the JPML ordered that they be conditionally transferred to the

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in conjunction with MDL-1769,

titled In re Seroquel Products Liability Litigation.

Because transfer of the cases is imminent based on the JPML’s August 2, 2006

order, the court GRANTS defendant’s motion to stay all further proceedings in the above

cases pending transfer. The court also DENIES without prejudice plaintiffs’ motions for

voluntary dismissal in all of the above cases and defendant’s motion to dismiss in 06-1531

PJH without prejudice to refiling in the District Court to which the case is transferred by the

MDL. Accordingly, the court VACATES the August 16, 2006 hearing date in case no. 06-

1531, and the September 6, 2006 hearing date in all of the above cases.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 8, 2006 

______________________________

PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON

United States District Judge

Case 4:06-cv-01315-PJH Document 21 Filed 08/08/06 Page 2 of 2