Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00057/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00057-0/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 SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware 

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STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCE 

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 

Kevin M. Hara (SBN 221604) 

REED SMITH LLP 

1999 Harrison St., Suite 2400 

Oakland, CA 94610 

Telephone: 510.763.2000 

Facsimile: 510.273.8832 

Email: khara@reedsmith.com 

Attorneys for Defendant 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

LYNN FRANKLIN, 

 Plaintiff, 

vs. 

MERCK & CO., INC., et al., 

 Defendants. 

Case No. 2:07-cv-00057-FCD-GGH

STIPULATION AND ORDER 

STAYING RULE 26(F) AND INITIAL 

SCHEDULING CONFERENCES 

PENDING DECISION ON TRANSFER 

TO VIOXX MDL NO. 1657 

Honorable Frank C. Damrell, Jr.

Case 2:07-cv-00057-FCD-GGH Document 16 Filed 03/12/07 Page 1 of 3
REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware 

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STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCE 

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

THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, PLAINTIFF AND DEFENDANT, THROUGH 

THEIR ATTORNEYS, FILE THIS STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER. 

This case, Lynn Franklin v. Merck & Co., Inc., et al. Case Number 2:07-cv-00057-FCDGGH, was filed in state court on September 26, 2006 and removed to this Court on January 9, 2007. 

No discovery has been conducted or scheduled. 

On January 31, 2007, Merck filed a Motion to Stay Proceedings Pending the Transfer 

Decision of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“JPML”). On February 2, 2007, plaintiff 

filed a Motion to Remand. Oral argument was originally scheduled for March 16, 2007. 

On January 12, 2007, 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. This case was listed on a conditional 

transfer order, CTO-83, on February 1, 2007. 

Plaintiff has timely opposed the transfer of this case to the Vioxx MDL. The MDL panel will 

decide whether this case should be transferred to the MDL. 

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Case 2:07-cv-00057-FCD-GGH Document 16 Filed 03/12/07 Page 2 of 3
REED SMITH LLP 

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware 

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STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCE 

In light of the pending decision regarding the transfer of this case to the Vioxx MDL, the 

parties respectfully request that further Joint Status Reports be postponed and that Discovery and 

Scheduling Conferences be continued so as to allow the JPML to rule on transfer of this tag along 

action. 

 SO STIPULATED. 

Dated: March 8, 2007 

REED SMITH LLP 

By: ___ /s/ Kevin M. Hara 

 Kevin M. Hara 

Attorney for Defendant 

MERCK & CO., INC. 

Dated: March 8, 2007 

PANISH SHEA AND BOYLE 

By: ___ /s/ Kevin R. Boyle 

 Kevin R. Boyle 

Attorney for Plaintiff 

Lynn Franklin 

ORDER 

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

Court. 

Dated: March 12, 2007 

Case 2:07-cv-00057-FCD-GGH Document 16 Filed 03/12/07 Page 3 of 3