Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-md-01827/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-md-01827-13/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 410
Nature of Suit: Antitrust
Cause of Action: 15:1 Antitrust Litigation

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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

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IN RE: TFT-LCD (FLAT PANEL) ANTITRUST

LITIGATION

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This Order Relates to:

ALL CASES

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No. M 07-1827 SI

MDL. No. 1827

PRETRIAL ORDER NO. 4:

APPOINTMENT OF THE HONORABLE

FERN M. SMITH AS SPECIAL MASTER 

I. Scope of Order

1. Order Applicable to All Cases in MDL Proceedings. This Order shall apply to all cases

currently pending in MDL No. 1827 and to all related actions that have been or will be originally filed

in, transferred to, or removed to this Court and assigned thereto (collectively, “the MDL proceedings”).

This Order is binding on all parties and their counsel in all cases currently pending or subsequently

made part of these proceedings and shall govern each case in the proceedings.

2. Appointment of Special Master. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53 and this

Court’s Pretrial Order No. 1, issued on July 3, 2007, and with the consent of the parties, the Court

hereby appoints the Honorable Fern M. Smith, United States District Court Judge (Retired), as a Special

Master to assist the Court in this litigation (hereinafter “Judge Smith” or “Special Master”).

II. Basis for Appointment under Rule 53(a) and 53(b)(1)

3. Basis for Appointment. The Special Master is hereby appointed pursuant to Rule

53(a)(1) to perform duties consented to by the parties (Rule 53(a)(1)(A)), to make findings of fact on

issues to be decided by the Court because appointment is warranted by an exceptional condition

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(namely, the volume of cases pending in these proceedings) (Rule 53(a)(1)(B)(i)), and to address pretrial

and post-trial matters that cannot be addressed effectively and timely by an available district judge or

magistrate judge of the district (Rule 53(a)(1)(C)).

4. No Grounds for Disqualification. Pursuant to Rule 53(a)(2) and 53(b)(3), the Special

Master has filed an affidavit with this Court that states that she has no relationship to the parties,

counsel, action, or Court that would require disqualification of a judge under 28 U.S.C. § 455. During

the course of these proceedings, the Special Master and the parties shall notify this Court immediately

if they become aware of any potential grounds that would require disqualification.

5. Fairness Considerations. Pursuant to Rule 53(a)(3), the Court has considered the fairness

of imposing the likely expenses of the Special Master on the parties. The Court believes that the

appointment and use of the Special Master will materially advance the litigation, thereby achieving

considerable cost-saving to all parties. Moreover, the Court notes that the parties have consented to the

Special Master’s appointment. The Court will protect against unreasonable expenses and delay through

regular communication with the Special Master and Liaison Counsel.

6. Proper Notice Given to All Parties. Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(1) and Pretrial Order No. 1,

the Court gave all parties to the MDL proceedings notice of its intent to appoint the Special Master and

an opportunity to be heard with respect to such an appointment before issuing this Order.

III. Special Master’s Duties, Authority and Compensation

7. Diligence. Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2), the Court hereby directs the Special Master to

proceed with all reasonable diligence in performing her duties in the MDL proceedings.

8. Scope of the Special Master’s Duties. Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2)(A), the Special Master

shall assist the Court with matters such as case management, discovery organization and structuring,

prioritization of class considerations, case resolution procedures, and other matters in which the large

scale of this litigation will make Special Master’s assistance prudent and economical.

9. Scope of the Special Master’s Authority. The Special Master shall have the authority

provided in Rule 53(c) and 53(d).

10. Procedure for Motions Submitted to the Special Master. The procedural requirements

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contained in this Court’s Pretrial Orders shall govern any motion practice before the Special Master.

11. Ex Parte Communications. Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2)(B), the Special Master may

communicate ex parte with the Court at any time. The Special Master shall not communicate ex parte

with any party without first providing notice to, and receiving consent from, plaintiffs’ and defendants’

Liaison Counsel.

12. Preservation of Materials and Preparation of Record. Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2)(C), the

Special Master shall maintain orderly files consisting of all documents submitted to her by the parties

and of any of her written orders, findings, and/or recommendations. Pursuant to Rule 53(e), the Special

Master shall file any written orders, findings, and/or recommendations with the Court via the Court’s

Electronic Case Filing (“ECF”) as described in the Court’s Pretrial Order No. 1, paragraph 7. Such

filing shall fulfill the Special Master’s duty to serve her order on the parties. Any records of the Special

Master’s activities other than her written orders, findings, and/or recommendations shall be filed in

accordance with paragraph 17 herein.

13. Compensation. Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2)(E) and 53(h), the Special Master shall be

compensated at an hourly rate of $700.00 for her services as Special Master in the MDL proceedings.

The Special Master shall not charge for travel time. Judge Smith shall prepare a monthly invoice for

her services, which she shall provide to plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel and defendants’ Liaison Counsel.

Plaintiffs and defendants shall each pay half of the monthly invoice, unless the Special Master or the

Court direct otherwise. Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel shall meet and confer with plaintiff’s Interim Lead

Counsel regarding how to apportion plaintiffs’ half of a particular invoice. Defendants’ Liaison Counsel

also shall meet and confer with other defense counsel regarding how to apportion defendants’ half of

a particular invoice. Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel and defendants’ Liaison Counsel shall each be

responsible for promptly forwarding payment of the Special Master’s invoice. 

14. Special Master’s Reports to Court. Pursuant to Rule 53(f), the Special Master shall report

to the Court as directed by the Court.

IV. Action on Special Master’s Orders, Reports, or Recommendations

15. Scope of Section. Pursuant to Rule 53(b)(2)(D) and 53(g), the procedures described in

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paragraphs 16 through 19 herein shall govern any action on the Special Master’s orders, reports, and/or

recommendations.

16. Time Limits for Review. Any party wishing to file objections to or a motion to adopt

or modify the Special Master’s orders, reports, and/or recommendations must file such objections or

motion with the Court within 14 days from the day the Special Master filed the order, report, and/or

recommendation via ECF. Any order issued by the Special Master shall remain in effect pending any

such objection or motion.

17. Filing the Record for Review. The party filing the objection or motion shall submit with

such objection or motion any record necessary for the Court to review the Special Master’s order, report,

and/or recommendation, including any transcripts of proceedings before the Special Master and any

documents submitted by the parties in connection with the Special Master’s order, report, and/or

recommendation. Failure to provide the record shall constitute grounds for the Court to overrule the

objection or deny the motion.

18. Standard for the Court’s Review. Pursuant to Rule 53(g)(3)-(5), the Court shall review

findings of fact made or recommended by the Special Master for clear error. The Court shall review de

novo any conclusions of law made or recommended by the Special Master. The Court will set aside the

Special Master’s ruling on a procedural matter only for an abuse of discretion.

19. Court’s Actions on Special Master’s Orders. Pursuant to Rule 53(g)(1), in acting on an

order, report, or recommendations of the Special Master, the Court shall afford each party an

opportunity to be heard and, in its discretion, may receive evidence, and may adopt or affirm; modify;

wholly or partly reject or reverse; resubmit to the Special Master with instructions; or make any further

orders it deems appropriate. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 27, 2007 

SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

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