Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01027/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01027-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Petition for Removal

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REED

S

MIT

H LLP

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

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No. 2:05-CV-01027-LKK-KJM 

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER TO STAY PROCEEDINGS PENDING MDL TRANSFER 

Michael K. Brown (CSBN 104252) 

Thomas J. Yoo (CSBN 175118) 

REED SMITH LLP 

355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 2900 

Los Angeles, CA 90071 

Telephone: (213) 457-8000 

Facsimile: (213) 457-8080 

Steven J. Boranian (CSBN 174183) 

Susan B. Altman (CSBN 230227) 

REED SMITH LLP 

Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 2000 

San Francisco, CA 94111 

Telephone: (415) 543-8700 

Facsimile: (415) 391-8269 

Attorneys for Defendant 

Merck & Co., Inc 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SHAUN PERKINS, CRAIG PERKINS, and 

ANTHONY PERKINS 

 Plaintiffs, 

vs. 

MERCK & CO.; INC AND DOES 1 through 25 

 Defendants. 

No. 2:05-CV-01027-LKK-KJM 

STIPULATION AND ORDER TO STAY 

ALL PROCEEDINGS PENDING THE 

TRANSFER DECISION BY THE 

JUDICIAL PANEL ON MULTIDISTRICT 

LITIGATION 

Hearing Date: July 18, 2005 

Time: 10:00 a.m. 

Courtroom: 4 

Trial Date: None set 

Honorable Lawrence K. Karlton 

Case 2:05-cv-01027-LKK -KJM Document 11 Filed 07/13/05 Page 1 of 3
REED

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MIT

H LLP

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

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No. 2:05-CV-01027-LKK-KJM - 2 -

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER TO STAY PROCEEDINGS PENDING MDL TRANSFER 

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 Shaun, Craig and Anthony Perkins attribute their mother’s 

death 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 February 16, 2005, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation 

(“JPML”) issued an order transferring 148 VIOXX®-related cases to the United 

States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana for coordinated pretrial 

proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 1407. Merck intends to seek the transfer of this action 

to that Multidistrict Litigation, In re VIOXX Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 

1657, and shortly will provide the JPML with notice of this action pursuant to the 

procedure for "tag along" actions set forth in the rules of the JPML. 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 assigned to handle the consolidated 

litigation”). 

Based on the foregoing, the parties respectfully request that the Court 

stay this action pending its transfer to MDL No. 1657. 

DATED: June 16 , 2005. 

Case 2:05-cv-01027-LKK -KJM Document 11 Filed 07/13/05 Page 2 of 3
REED

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MIT

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A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

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No. 2:05-CV-01027-LKK-KJM - 3 -

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER TO STAY PROCEEDINGS PENDING MDL TRANSFER 

REED SMITH LLP 

By /s/ Susan B. Altman 

Steven J. Boranian 

Attorneys for Defendant 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

DATED: June 16 , 2005. 

DENNIS L. FLEMING ATTORNEY AT LAW 

By /s/ Dennis L. Fleming 

Dennis L. Fleming 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

Shaun, Craig and Anthony Perkins 

ORDER

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

ORDERED. 

 DATED: July 12, 2005 

/s/Lawrence K. Karlton

 Lawrence K. Karlton 

 Senior Judge 

Case 2:05-cv-01027-LKK -KJM Document 11 Filed 07/13/05 Page 3 of 3