Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02567/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02567-0/pdf.json

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

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REED

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H LLP

A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

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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) 

Kevin M. Hara (SBN 221604) 

REED SMITH LLP 

Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 2000 

San Francisco, CA 94111 

Telephone: (415) 543-8700 

Facsimile: (415) 391-8269 

Email: sboranian@reedsmith.com

khara@reedsmith.com

Attorneys for Defendant 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

TOMMIE CALHOUN, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

MERCK & CO., INC., a New Jersey corporation; 

MCKESSON CORPORATION; DOE 

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES 1 through 

50, inclusive; DOE PHARMACIES 51 through 

100, inclusive; DOES 101 through 200, inclusive,

Defendants. 

No.: 2:05-cv-02567-FCD-DAD

STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING 

PROCEEDINGS PENDING TRANSFER 

TO IN RE VIOXX PRODUCTS LIABILITY 

LITIGATION, MDL NO. 1657

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– 1 – 

STIPULATION AND 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. 

Plaintiff alleges 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 December 23, 2005, 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. 

The MDL Panel issued Conditional Transfer Order No. 38 on January 26, 2006, which 

included this action. Plaintiff indicated that he will not oppose the Conditional Transfer Order. A 

Transfer Order should be issued shortly. 

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 

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– 2 – 

STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS 

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

transfer to the MDL. 

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

pending its transfer to MDL No. 1657. 

DATED: January 30 , 2006. 

REED SMITH LLP 

By /s/ Kevin M. Hara 

Kevin M. Hara 

Attorneys for Defendant 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

DATED: January ___, 2006. 

MARY ALEXANDER & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 

By 

Mary E. Alexander 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

Tommie Calhoun 

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– 3 – 

STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS 

ORDER

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

ORDERED. 

DATED: February 2, 2006 

/s/ Frank C. Damrell Jr. 

Frank C. Damrell, Jr. 

United States District Judge 

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