Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-md-01699/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-md-01699-26/pdf.json

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

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SD\1655507.4 

13415-401 PRETRIAL ORDER NO. 5: NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPOINT THE HONORABLE 

FERN SMITH AS SPECIAL MASTER – M:05-CV-01699-CRB 

 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

IN RE: BEXTRA AND CELEBREX 

MARKETING SALES PRACTICES AND 

PRODUCT LIABILITY LITIGATION 

CASE NO. M:05-CV-01699-CRB 

MDL No. 1699 

This Order Relates to: 

 ALL CASES. 

PRETRIAL ORDER NO. 5: NOTICE OF 

INTENT TO APPOINT THE 

HONORABLE FERN SMITH AS SPECIAL 

MASTER 

1. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53(b)(1), the Court hereby 

provides all parties notice that it intends to appoint the Honorable Fern Smith, United States 

District Judge (Retired), as a Special Master to assist the Court in this litigation. The Court 

anticipates that Judge Smith will assist the Court with matters such as case management, trial 

selection and case resolution procedures, scheduling orders, specially-assigned discovery 

motions, and other issues on which the Court and the parties wish to utilize her services. 

2. Any party wishing to be heard with respect to such appointment must 

notify Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel (for any counsel representing a plaintiff) or Defendants’ 

Liaison Counsel (for any counsel representing a defendant) by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time 

on Tuesday, February 14, 2006. 

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Case 3:05-md-01699-CRB Document 170 Filed 02/07/06 Page 1 of 2
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SD\1655507.4 

13415-401 PRETRIAL ORDER NO. 5: NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPOINT THE HONORABLE 

FERN SMITH AS SPECIAL MASTER – M:05-CV-01699-CRB 

3. Liaison Counsel are directed to meet and confer with each other and, after 

doing so, jointly with Judge Smith, with respect to an order appointing her as Special Master, 

which such order shall contain the contents required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53(b)(2). 

The parties shall submit a joint proposed order appointing Judge Smith as Special Master by 

Tuesday, March 14, 2006. 

4. The Court requests that Judge Smith notify the Court if she is willing to 

accept such appointment and, if so, to file an affidavit disclosing whether there is any ground for 

disqualification under 28 U.S.C. § 455, as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53(b)(3). 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: February 7, 2006 /S/ 

HONORABLE CHARLES R. BREYER 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 3:05-md-01699-CRB Document 170 Filed 02/07/06 Page 2 of 2