Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-06967/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-06967-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Other Contract

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STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT FORD’S MOTION TO TRANSFER

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MCGUIREWOODS LLP

BETHANY GAYLE LUKITSCH (SBN 314376)

355 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 4200

Los Angeles, California 90071-3103

Telephone: (213) 457-9840

Facsimile: (213) 457-9877

E-mail: blukitsch@mcguirewoods.com

MCGUIREWOODS LLP 

PERRY W. MILES IV (Admitted Pro Hac Vice)

Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street

Richmond, Virginia 23219-3916

Telephone: (804) 775-1000

Facsimile: (804) 775-1061

E-mail: pmiles@mcguirewoods.com

Attorneys for Ford Motor Company

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ZACHARY J. FARLOW, MATTHEW H. 

CLOUGH, CURTIS MCNEAL MERTZ, 

WILLIAM TSUMPES, JAMES HIGDON, 

DARYL ALEJANDRO, GARY O. 

PEDERSON, BOBBY J. GRIFFITH, BARRY 

R. GONSALVES, JOSEPH SAWICKI, 

ALLEN J. FOWLER, JAMES CROWELL, 

JR., KELLY ARNOLD, ROBERT C. HAUS, 

and WARREN STORY, each plaintiff is a 

citizen of the State of California and each 

plaintiff brings suit Individually and on behalf 

of all others similarly situated,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY, a Delaware 

Corporation,

Defendant.

CASE NO. 3:18-cv-06967-JD

The Hon. James Donato

STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED]

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT FORD 

MOTOR COMPANY’S 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) 

MOTION TO TRANSFER VENUE

Case 3:18-cv-06967-JD Document 67 Filed 01/23/20 Page 1 of 4
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WHEREAS, on August 9, 2019, the same three law firms representing the named Plaintiffs 

here filed a nearly identical complaint against Ford on behalf of a putative nationwide class in the 

Eastern District of Michigan. Droesser v. Ford Motor Co., No. 5:19cv12365-JEL (E.D. Mich.).

Ford moved to transfer Farlow (and two other cases Nunez v. Ford Motor Co., 1:18cv25211 (S.D. 

Fla. filed Dec. 12, 2018), and Stevens v. Ford Motor Co., No. 2:18cv456 (S.D. Tex. filed Dec. 20, 

2018)) to the Eastern District of Michigan under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). See, e.g., Motion to Transfer, 

Farlow, ECF No. 61 (Aug. 28, 2019). 

WHEREAS, shortly before Ford moved to transfer, those same three firms asked the Judicial 

Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“JPML”) to centralize the cases against Ford and other 

manufacturers in a multidistrict litigation (“MDL”) under 28 U.S.C. § 1407. See Notice, ECF No. 

[59] (Aug. 23, 2019).

WHEREAS this Court stayed all proceedings before it on September 9, 2019 pending the 

outcome of Plaintiffs’ Motion before the JPML. 

WHEREAS on December 18, 2019, the JPML held centralization was unnecessary, and 

noted that “[i]f [Ford’s 1404(a)] motions are granted, all four actions against Ford will be in a single 

district, further lessening any need for centralization.” In re: CP4 Fuel Pump Marketing, Sales 

Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2919, at 2 n.1 (Dec. 18, 2019). 

WHEREAS on December 20, 2019, Plaintiffs’ counsel advised that they now are amenable 

to transfer of the Farlow matter to the Eastern District of Michigan for consolidation with the 

Droesser matter already pending there pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) and will not oppose Ford’s 

pending motion.

WHEREAS consolidation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) will enhance the “convenience 

of the parties and witnesses” and is in the “interest of justice.” Moreover, transfer to the Eastern 

District of Michigan is likewise proper as venue is proper in the Eastern District of Michigan, where 

Ford’s principal place of business is located, and the Farlow matter and the Droesser matter share 

nearly identical allegations and legal theories.

IT IS THEREFORE STIPULATED AND AGREED that this action be transferred to the 

E.D. Mich. as a related action to the Droesser matter, No. 5:19cv12365-JEL (E.D. Mich.).

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Dated: January 17, 2020 MCGUIREWOODS LLP

By: /s/ Bethany Gayle Lukitsch 

Bethany Gayle Lukitsch

Perry W. Miles IV

Courtney Cook Shytle

355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 4200 

Los Angeles, CA 90071 

213-627-2268 / Fax: 213-627-2579 

E-mail: blukitsch@mcguirewoods.com

E-mail: pmiles@mcguirewoods.com

E-mail: cshytle@mcguirewoods.com

Attorneys for Ford Motor Company

Dated: January 17, 2020 HILLIARD, MARTINEZ, GONZALES LLP 

By: /s/ Bradford P. Klager 

Robert C. Hilliard (Admitted Pro Hac Vice) 

Marion Reilly (Admitted Pro Hac Vice)

Bradford P. Klager (Admitted Pro Hac Vice)

Lauren Akers (Admitted Pro Hac Vice)

719 S. Shoreline Boulevard

Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 

361-882-1612 / Fax: 361-882-3015 

E-mail: bobh@hmglawfirm.com

E-mail: marion@hmglawfirm.com

E-mail: brad@hmglawfirm.com

E-mail: lakers@ hmglawfirm.com

E-mail: HMGservice@hmglawfirm.com

HAGENS BERMAN SOBOL SHAPIRO LLP

Steve W. Berman (Admitted Pro Hac Vice) 

Shana E. Scarlett

Jeff D. Friedman

1301 Second Avenue, Suite 2000

Seattle, Washington 98101

206-623-7292 / Fax: 206-623-0594 

E-mail: steve@hbsslaw.com 

E-mail: shanas@hbsslaw.com

E-mail: jefff@hbsslaw.com

Attorneys for Plaintiffs and the Proposed Class

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PURSUANT TO STIPULATION, IT IS SO ORDERED.

Date:

The Honorable James Donato

United States District Judge

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