Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_09-md-02119/USCOURTS-azd-2_09-md-02119-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 15:1601 Truth in Lending

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

IN RE Mortgage Electronic Registration

Systems (MERS) Litigation

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MDL DOCKET NO. 09-2119-JAT

ORDER

On January 14, 2010, the Court set forth an initial briefing schedule to determine the

effect of the Panel's original transfer order in this docket. See Order on Practices and

Procedures (Doc. #25). Pursuant to the transfer order and several later orders, the Panel

separated and simultaneously remanded claims unrelated to the “formation and operation of

the MERS system” to their respective transferor courts. The Court's subsequent March 23,

2010, order specifically delineated which claims the Panel ordered transferred and which

claims were remanded to the transferor court. 

The Court wishes to clarify two minor points. First, although the parties sought and

the Court mentioned “remand” of certain claims to the transferor court, under Section

1407(a), remands to a transferor court can only be effected by the Judicial Panel on

Multidistrict Litigation. 28 U.S.C. § 1407; see also R.P.J.P.M.L. 7.6. Any previous

reference in the March 23, 2010, order or subsequent orders of “remand” of certain

non-MERS claims to the transferor court were intended solely to be an determination of

which claims are pending before this Court and which claims remain in their respective

transferor courts, pursuant to the Panel’s transfer orders. 

Second, the Court's March 23, 2010, order suggested that if any claims before the

transferor court (i.e., claims not involving the formation and operation of MERS) evolve into

Case 2:09-md-02119-JAT Document 406 Filed 04/21/10 Page 1 of 2
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claims concerning the formation and operation of MERS, then Defendant may move before

the transferor court to transfer such claims to this Court for inclusion in the MDL

proceedings. In such an event, however, the proper procedure would be to notify the Panel

of the pendency of any such a claim. The Panel could then issue a conditional transfer order

covering that claim, or the party seeking transfer of such a claim could file a motion before

the Panel to transfer the claim to this MDL. Under Section 1407, the transferor judge cannot,

on his or her own initiative, transfer claims to an MDL proceeding. 

IT IS ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall file a copy of this Order in the

transferor court for each member case addressed by the March 23, 2010, order.

 DATED this 20th day of April, 2010.

Case 2:09-md-02119-JAT Document 406 Filed 04/21/10 Page 2 of 2