Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_09-md-02096/USCOURTS-azd-2_09-md-02096-0/pdf.json

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

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WO 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 

IN RE: ZICAM COLD REMEDY 

MARKETING, SALES PRACTICES AND 

PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION 

THIS DOCUMENT RELATES TO ALL 

ACTIONS 

Case No. 2:09-md-2096 

ORDER 

Upon the motion of the Economic Injury and Personal Injury Plaintiffs for appointment 

of an organizational structure and it appearing to the Court that the appointment of an 

organizational structure is necessary for the efficient administration of this case, and after 

hearing on February 25, 2010, it is hereby ORDERED as follows: 

I. APPOINTMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF PLAINTIFFS’ COUNSEL 

 A. Appointment of Co-Lead Class Counsel for All Economic Injury Plaintiffs 

Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23 (g)(3), Andrew S. Friedman of Bonnett, Fairbourn, 

Friedman & Balint, P.C. and Thomas Rosenfeld of Goldenberg Heller Antognoli & Rowland, 

P.C. are appointed as Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel to act on behalf of the Plaintiffs and 

proposed Class members in the Economic Injury Actions. The Economic Injury Actions include 

all actions that seek certification of a Class of plaintiffs for economic losses associated with the 

purchase of Zicam products, including the following actions transferred to this Court by the 

MDL Panel, as well as all other actions now pending or hereinafter filed in, removed to or 

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transferred to this Court which are predicated upon an economic injury claim: Roper v. Matrixx 

Initiatives, Inc., No. 09-08110; Thrasher v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., No. 09-00475; Sample v. 

Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., No. 09-04524; Teperson v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., No. 09-01358; 

Tassi v. Matrixx Initiatives, No. 09-1450; Gonzalez-Jones v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., No. 09-

21836; Fessler v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., No. 09-00485; Hammett v Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., 

No. 09-00391; Riepe v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., No. 09-04122; Sitzes v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., 

No. 09-0318; Capiro v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., No. 09-22262; Hand v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., 

No. 09-00122; Buszta v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., No. 09-13059; Siferd v. Matrixx Initiatives, 

Inc., No. 09-413; Suhr v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-02353; Young v. Matrixx 

Initiatives, Inc., No. 09-755 (hereinafter the “Economic Injury Actions”). As Interim Co-Lead 

Class Counsel for the Economic Injury Actions, Messrs. Friedman and Rosenfeld shall maintain 

a current list of all Economic Injury Actions. 

B. Appointment of Lead Counsel for All Personal Injury Plaintiffs

The Court appoints Charles Zimmerman of Zimmerman Reed, PLLP as Lead Counsel to 

act on behalf of the Personal Injury Actions. The Personal Injury Actions include all actions that 

seek compensation for physical harm associated with the use of the Zicam products, including 

the following actions transferred to this Court by the MDL Panel, as well as all other actions now 

pending or hereinafter filed in, removed to or transferred to this Court which arise from the same 

alleged facts: Nelson v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-02904; Lilak v. Matrixx 

Initiatives, Inc., No. 09-02107; Rhodes v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-22032; 

Yamasaki v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-00427; Ayotte v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et 

al., No. 09-11351; Alt v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-11387; Coleman, et al. v. Matrixx 

Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-02838; DiGiulio v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-00134; 

Case 2:09-md-02096-FJM Document 182 Filed 03/01/10 Page 2 of 8
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Newman, et al., v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-00066; Brandon v. Matrixx Initiatives, 

Inc., et al., No. 09-00008; Echols v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-00213; King v. 

Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-00232; Head v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-

00234; Griffin v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-00267; Marian Wright v. Zicam, LLC, et

al., No. 09-02131; Nuss v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-00511 Luten v. Matrixx 

Initiatives, et al., No. 09-02560; Smith v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-02564; Ballew v. 

Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 09-02321 and Wright v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al., No. 

09-02561 (hereinafter the “Personal Injury Actions”). As Lead Counsel, Mr. Zimmerman shall 

maintain a current list of all Personal Injury Actions. 

C. Responsibilities of Lead Counsel

1. Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel for the Economic Injury Actions and Lead 

Counsel for the Personal Injury Actions are expected to maintain communications and promote 

harmonious dealings among all Plaintiffs’ counsel for their respective actions. Interim Co-Lead 

Class Counsel for the Economic Injury Actions also shall coordinate with each other as required 

during the course of pretrial proceedings. Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel for the Economic 

Injury Actions shall be responsible for and have plenary authority to provide general supervision 

of the activities of Plaintiffs’ counsel in the Economic Injury Actions. Lead Counsel for the 

Personal Injury Actions shall be responsible for and have plenary authority to provide general 

supervision of the activities of Plaintiffs’ counsel in the Personal Injury Actions. Specifically, 

Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel shall have the authority in the Economic Loss Actions and Lead 

Counsel shall have the authority in the Personal Injury Actions to: 

a. Determine and present (in briefs, oral argument, or such other 

fashion as may be appropriate, personally or by a designee) to the Court and opposing parties the 

position of Plaintiffs on matters arising during pretrial proceedings; 

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b. Coordinate and conduct discovery on behalf of Plaintiffs consistent 

with the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1), 26(b)(2), and 26(g) and any discovery and 

scheduling orders that the Court may issue, including the preparation of joint interrogatories and 

requests for production of documents and the examination of witnesses in depositions; 

c. Host or co-host a common document depository for the Plaintiffs 

and monitor the review of documents to ensure proper performance and non-duplication of 

effort; 

d. Coordinate the selection and preparation of expert witnesses for 

the Plaintiffs; 

e. Conduct settlement negotiations on behalf of Plaintiffs; 

f. Delegate specific tasks to other counsel and appoint such informal 

committees of counsel as necessary to ensure that pretrial preparation for the Plaintiffs is 

conducted efficiently and effectively; 

g. Enter into stipulations with opposing counsel as necessary for the 

conduct of the litigation; 

h. Prepare and distribute periodic status reports for the Plaintiffs to 

the Court and/or the parties; 

i. Monitor the activities of co-counsel to ensure that schedules are 

met and unnecessary expenditures of time and funds are avoided; and 

j. Perform such other duties as may be incidental to proper 

coordination of Plaintiffs’ pretrial activities or authorized by further order of the Court. 

2. Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel for the Economic Injury Actions and Lead 

Counsel for the Personal Injury Actions also shall maintain lists of all Plaintiffs’ counsel and 

their respective addresses and will be responsible for receiving and distributing to all Plaintiffs’ 

counsel in the action all notices, orders and other communications from the Court. 

3. No pleadings or other papers shall be filed or tasks performed by 

Plaintiffs’ Counsel in the Economic Injury Actions without the advance approval of Interim CoLead Class Counsel for the Economic Injury Actions. No pleadings or other papers shall be 

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filed or tasks performed by Plaintiffs’ Counsel in the Personal Injury Actions without the 

advance approval of Lead Counsel for the Personal Injury Actions. No discovery shall be 

conducted by the Economic Injury Plaintiffs without the advance approval of Plaintiffs’ Interim 

Co-Lead Class Counsel for the Economic Injury Actions and no discovery shall be conducted by 

the Personal Injury Plaintiffs without the advance approval of Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel for the 

Personal Injury Actions. This is intended to prevent duplication of pleadings, discovery or tasks 

by Plaintiffs’ counsel. All pleadings or other papers filed with the Court on behalf of any 

Plaintiff in the Economic Injury Action shall be filed through Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel for 

the Economic Injury Actions and all pleadings or other papers filed with the Court on behalf of 

any Plaintiff in the Personal Injury Action shall be filed through Lead Counsel for the Personal 

Injury Actions. 

4. All Plaintiffs’ counsel in the Economic Injury Actions shall submit to 

Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel for the Economic Injury Actions as appropriate a record of time 

expended and expenses incurred in the manner, form and frequency directed by Interim Co-Lead 

Class Counsel for the Economic Injury Actions. All Plaintiffs’ counsel in the Personal Injury 

Actions shall submit to Lead Counsel for the Personal Injury Actions as appropriate a record of 

time expended and expenses incurred in the manner, form and frequency directed by Lead 

Counsel for the Personal Injury Actions. 

D. Designation of Cases and Pleadings

Consistent with the requirements set forth in paragraph C(3) of this Order, Interim CoLead Class Counsel for the Economic Injury Actions and Lead Counsel for the Personal Injury 

Actions shall file Notices of Case Designations as new cases are docketed in the MDL 

identifying which cases have been deemed Economic Injury Actions or Personal Injury Actions. 

Defendants shall file any objections to such designations within 14 days after the filing of such 

Notice of Case Designation. 

All pleadings filed in connection with this case shall designate which group of cases the 

pleading relates to by designating in the caption of the pleading one of the following: 

1. This pleading applies to the Economic Injury Actions; 

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2. This pleading applied to the Personal Injury Actions; or 

3. This pleading applies to All Actions. 

E. Steering Committees

The Personal Injury Plaintiffs’ pretrial activities in this case will be managed by the 

Personal Injury Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee. The Court grants Lead Counsel for the Personal 

Injury Actions 30 days from the date of this Order to designate the members of the Personal 

Injury Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee. The members of the Personal Injury Plaintiffs’ Steering 

Committee shall from time to time consult with Lead Counsel for the Personal Injury Actions in 

coordinating the Personal Injury Plaintiffs’ pretrial activities and planning for trial. 

F. Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel

The Court designates the following counsel to serve as Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel: 

Andrew S. Friedman of Bonnett, Fairbourn, Friedman & Balint, P.C. for the Economic Injury 

Plaintiffs and Charles S. Zimmerman of Zimmerman Reed, PLLP the Personal Injury Plaintiffs. 

Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel shall communicate and coordinate to ensure the orderly and efficient 

prosecution of all cases. Where possible, Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel will advance joint 

discovery requests and motions related to discovery issues. Further, Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel 

shall serve as intermediaries between Plaintiffs’ Counsel for the Economic Injury and Personal 

Injury Actions and the Court. 

II. APPOINTMENT OF LEAD COUNSEL FOR ALL DEFENDANTS 

 The court appoints William J. Maledon and David B. Rosenbaum of Osborn Maledon, 

Alan J. Lazarus of Drinker Biddle & Reath, and Paul J. Giancola of Snell & Wilmer as co-lead 

counsel for all Defendants, including retailers. 

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III. NOTICE OF SUBSEQUENTLY FILED CASES 

This Order shall apply to each case arising out of the same or substantially the same 

transactions or events which are subsequently filed in, removed to or transferred to this Court, 

unless a party objecting to any provision of this order files an application for modification within 

ten days after such party receives a copy of this Order and this Court deems it appropriate to 

grant the application. 

IV. ADMISSION OF ATTORNEYS 

 All attorneys of record to the parties who appeared in actions in a transferor court prior to 

transfer to this MDL need not enter an additional appearance before this Court. Moreover, 

attorneys admitted to practice and in good standing of any United States District Court are 

admitted to practice in this litigation pursuant to Rule 1.4 of the Rules of Procedure of the 

Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. The requirements of Local Rule of Civil Procedure 

83.1(b)(3) are waived, except as to lead and liaison counsel. Association of local counsel is not 

required. Counsel are expected to familiarize themselves with prior court orders and proceedings 

as well as the local rules of the District of Arizona. 

V. PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE 

During the pendency of this litigation, or until further order of this Court, the parties shall 

take reasonable steps to preserve all documents within their possession, custody or control, 

including computer and electronically generated and stored information that is reasonably 

anticipated to be subject to discovery in this action. Nothing in this paragraph is intended to 

change or otherwise modify the parties’ obligations under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 

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VI. SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS 

The parties will comply with the Electronic Case Filing (ECF) Administrative Policies 

and Procedures Manual for the District of Arizona for all documents submitted for filing before 

this court. Service through ECF shall be deemed sufficient with no additional service required. 

For documents to be served but not filed, service on Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel for the 

Economic Injury Actions and Lead Counsel for the Personal Injury Actions constitutes service 

on all other attorneys or parties for whom such counsel acts and service may be made 

electronically pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(b)(E), written consent of Interim Co-Lead Class 

Counsel for the Economic Injury Actions and Lead Counsel for the Personal Injury Actions 

having been obtained. 

VII. COMMUNICATION AMONG COUNSEL 

 The Court recognizes that cooperation by and among counsel is essential for the orderly 

and expeditious resolution of this litigation. Accordingly, the mere communication of otherwise 

privileged information among and between Plaintiffs’ counsel shall not be deemed a waiver of 

the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product immunity. Similarly, the mere 

communication of information among and between counsel for Defendants shall not be deemed a 

waiver of any applicable privilege. 

VIII. MISCELLANEOUS 

Counsel for all parties are directed to cooperate with one another, wherever possible, to 

promote the expeditious handling of pre-trial proceedings in this action. 

 Dated this 26th day of February, 2010. 

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