Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00694/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00694-0/pdf.json

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

---

REED

S

MIT

H LLP

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 

 

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS 

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) 

REED SMITH LLP 

Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 2000 

San Francisco, CA 94111 

Telephone: (415) 543-8700 

Facsimile: (415) 391-8269 

Email: sboranian@reedsmith.com

Andrea McDonald-Hicks (SBN 219836) 

REED SMITH LLP 

1999 Harrison Street, Suite 2400 

Oakland, CA 94612 

Telephone: (510) 763-2000 

Facsimile: (510) 273-8832 

Email: amcdonald-hicks@reedsmith.com

Attorneys for Defendant 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

EILA ROUSSEAU, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

MERCK & COMPANY, INC., a New Jersey 

Corporation; MCKESSON CORPORATION; a 

California Corporation; and DOES 1 through 50, 

inclusive, 

Defendants. 

No.: 2:06-cv-0694-WBS-KJM 

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] 

ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS 

PENDING TRANSFER TO IN RE VIOXX 

PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION, 

MDL NO. 1657

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 2:06-cv-00694-WBS -KJM Document 8 Filed 05/12/06 Page 1 of 4
REED

S

MIT

H LLP

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 

– 1 – 

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS 

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

THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA: 

The parties, by and through their counsel, stipulate to and respectfully request a stay of all 

proceedings in this action pending the transfer of this case to In re VIOXX Products Liability 

Litigation, MDL No. 1657. 

Plaintiffs allege personal injuries attributed to the prescription drug Vioxx®. Defendant 

Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck”) manufactured and distributed Vioxx, but voluntarily withdrew Vioxx 

from the market on September 30, 2004. 

On April 4, 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 anticipates that the MDL Panel will issue a Conditional Transfer Order that includes 

this action shortly. Plaintiffs have indicated that they will not oppose the Conditional Transfer 

Order. 

A stay will potentially conserve judicial resources and will not cause unfair prejudice to the 

parties. See Rivers v. Walt Disney Co., 980 F. Supp. 1358, 1360 (C.D. Cal. 1997) (stay pending 

MDL transfer decision action would further judicial economy because “any efforts on behalf of this 

Court concerning case management will most likely have to be replicated by the judge that is 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 2:06-cv-00694-WBS -KJM Document 8 Filed 05/12/06 Page 2 of 4
REED

S

MIT

H LLP

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 

– 2 – 

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS 

assigned to handle the consolidated litigation”). The parties agree to a stay of this case pending 

transfer to the MDL. 

By stipulating to a stay of this case pending transfer to the MDL, plaintiff has not waived her 

right to move for remand before the MDL judge. 

Based on the foregoing, the parties respectfully request that the Court stay this action 

pending its transfer to MDL No. 1657. 

DATED: May , 2006. 

REED SMITH LLP 

By /s/ 

Andrea McDonald-Hicks 

Attorneys for Defendant 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

DATED: May ___, 2006. 

LIEFF, CABRASER, HIEMANN & BERNSTEIN LLP 

By /s/ 

Joy A. Kruse 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

Eila Rousseau 

DATED: May __, 2006. 

MORRIS POLICH & PURDY 

By /s/ 

Kanika Corley 

Attorneys for Defendant 

McKesson Corp. 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 2:06-cv-00694-WBS -KJM Document 8 Filed 05/12/06 Page 3 of 4
REED

S

MIT

H LLP

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 

– 3 – 

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS 

ORDER

Having considered the foregoing stipulation, and good cause appearing therefore, IT IS SO 

ORDERED. 

DATED: May 10, 2006 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 2:06-cv-00694-WBS -KJM Document 8 Filed 05/12/06 Page 4 of 4