Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01957/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01957-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1446 Petition for Removal- Personal Injury

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A limited liability partnership formed in the State of Delaware

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STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCES PENDING RESOLUTION OF 

LAW AND MOTION MATTERS 

Michael K. Brown (SBN 104252) 

Thomas J. Yoo (SBN 174118) 

REED SMITH LLP 

355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 2900 

Los Angeles, CA 90071 

Telephone: 213.457.8000 

Facsimile: 213.457.8080 

Email: mkbrown@reedsmith.com

tyoo@reedsmith.com

Steven J. Boranian (SBN 174183) 

REED SMITH LLP 

Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 2000 

San Francisco, CA 94111-3922 

Telephone: 415.543.8700 

Facsimile: 415.391.8269 

Email: sboranian@reedsmith.com

Dana A. Blanton (SBN 232373) 

REED SMITH LLP 

1999 Harrison St., Suite 2400 

Oakland, CA 94610 

Telephone: 510.763.2000 

Facsimile: 510.273.8832 

Email: dblanton@reedsmith.com 

Attorneys for Defendants 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MAXIMO RIVERA, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

MERCK & CO. INC., et al. 

Defendants. 

No.: 2:06-cv-1957-DFL-GGH 

STIPULATION AND ORDER STAYING 

RULE 26(F) AND INITIAL SCHEDULING 

CONFERENCES PENDING RESOLUTION 

OF LAW AND MOTION MATTERS 

Honorable David F. Levi 

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Case 2:06-cv-01957-DFL-GGH Document 17 Filed 11/01/06 Page 1 of 4
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– 1 – 

STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCES PENDING RESOLUTION OF 

LAW AND MOTION MATTERS 

TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR 

THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, PLAINTIFF AND DEFENDANT, THROUGH 

THEIR ATTORNEYS, FILE THIS STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER. 

This case, Maximo Rivera v. Merck & Co., Inc., et al. Case Number 2:06-cv-1957-DFLGGH, was filed in state court on July 19, 2006 and removed to this Court on August 31, 2006. 

No discovery has been conducted or scheduled. 

On September 5, 2006, 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. On October 2, 2006, the JPML issued 

Conditional Transfer Order 66, which includes this case. Plaintiff filed an Opposition to Conditional 

Transfer Order 66, as well as a Motion to Vacate the Order. 

On September 26, 2006 plaintiff filed a Motion to Remand this matter to state court. 

Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand is scheduled to be heard on December 13, 2006. Also pending before 

this Court is Merck’s Motion to Stay Proceedings Pending Transfer to the Vioxx MDL, filed 

September 7, 2006. These matters have not yet been fully resolved. 

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– 2 – 

STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCES PENDING RESOLUTION OF 

LAW AND MOTION MATTERS 

In light of the pending Motion to Remand and Motion to Stay, the parties respectfully 

request that further Joint Status Reports be postponed and that Discovery Conferences be continued 

until after resolution of the pending Law and Motion matters. 

SO STIPULATED. 

Dated: October 31, 2006 

REED SMITH LLP 

By: /s/ Dana Blanton 

Dana A. Blanton 

Attorney for Defendant 

MERCK & CO., INC. 

Dated: October 31, 2006 

HERSH& HERSH 

By: /s/ Carole Bosch 

Carole Bosch 

Attorney for Plaintiff 

Maximo Rivera 

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– 3 – 

STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER STAYING RULE 26(F) CONFERENCES PENDING RESOLUTION OF 

LAW AND MOTION MATTERS 

ORDER

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED the above terms of this Stipulation are approved by this 

Court. 

Dated: November 1, 2006 

 /s/ David F. Levi_________

 United States District Judge 

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