Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_07-cv-00733/USCOURTS-ared-4_07-cv-00733-0/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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UNITED STATES i\CEHTIFIED TF\UE JUDICIAL PANEL ON 

ATIEST MULTI DISTRICT LITIGATION 

By Tanisha Spinner on Apr 08, 2008 Apr 08,2008 UNITED STATES JUDICIAL PANEL 

,..,UDICl!\; Pt>-HEL ON
 

on FILED

',tl ,: L! T~G/\l K)N
 MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION CLERK'S OFFICE 

IN RE: GENETICALLY MODIFIED RICE
 

LITIGATION
 

Rickmers Reismuehle GmbH v. Producers Rice Mill, Inc., )
 

E.D. Arkansas, C.A. No. 4:07-732 ) MOL No. 1811 

Rickmers Reismuehle GmbH v. Riceland Foods, Inc., ) 

E.D. Arkansas, C.A. No. 4:07-733 ) FILED 

TRANSFER ORDER APR - 9 2008 

Jua 6)~~~~" ~R~KI Before the entire Panel': Plaintiff in two actions pending in the Eastern DistW Ulik:rls~ has moved pursuant to Rule 7.4, R.P.J.P.ML, 199 F.R.D. 425, 435-36 (2001), asking the Panel to' 

vacate its order conditionally transferring the actions to the Eastern District of Missouri for inclusion 

in MOL No. 1811. Defendants in both actions and Bayer CropScience LP (Bayer) oppose the motion. 

After considering all argument ofcounsel, we find that these actions involve common questions 

of fact with the actions in this litigation previously transferred to the Eastern District of Missouri, and 

that transfer of these actions to the Eastern District of Missouri for inclusion in MOL No.1811 will 

serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of the 

litigation. We further find that transfer ofthese actions is appropriate for reasons that we set out in our 

original order directing centralization in this docket. In that order, we held that the Eastern District of 

Missouri was a proper Section 1407 forum for actions involving allegations regarding Bayer's role in 

causing the contamination of commercial rice stocks with genetically modified rice. See In re 

Genetically Modified Rice Litigation, 466 F.Supp.2d 1351 (J.P.M.L. 2006). 

The parties argue against transfer that, inter alia, these breach of contract actions should be 

excluded because they involve facts independent ofMOL No. 1811 and because transfer will delay the 

resolution of the actions. Based upon the Panel's precedents and for the following reasons, we 

respectfully disagree with these arguments. Transfer under Section 1407 has the salutary effect of 

placing related actions before a single judge who can formulate a pretrial program that: (\) allows 

discovery with respect to any individual issues or claims to proceed concurrently with pretrial 

proceedings on common issues, In re Ephedra Products Liability Litigation, 314 F.Supp.2d 1373, 1375 

(J.P.ML 2004); and (2) ensures that pretrial proceedings will be conducted in a streamlined manner 

leading to the just and expeditious resolution of all actions to the overall benefit or the parties. 

• Judge Scirica took no part in the disposition ofthis matter. 

Case 4:07-cv-00733-JMM Document 19 Filed 04/14/08 Page 1 of 2
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Should the circumstances regarding any action in MOL No. 1811 develop such that the 

transferee judge determines that continued inclusion ofa claim or action no longer remains advisable, 

and accordingly the transferee court deems Section 1407 remand of any claim or action appropriate, 

procedures are available whereby this may be accomplished with a minimum or delay following a 

suggestion of remand to the Panel by the transferee judge. See Rule 7.6, R.PJ.P.M.L., 199 F.R.D. at 

436-38. 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that, pursuant to 28 U.S.c. § 1407, these actions are transferred 

to the Eastern District of Missouri and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the Honorable 

Catherine D. Perry for inclusion in the coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings occurring there 

in this docket. 

PANEL ON MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION 

v' John. He~rn II 

Chairman 

D. Lowell Jensen J. Frederick Motz 

Robert L. Miller, Jr. Kathryn H. Vratil 

David R. Hansen Anthony J. Scirica* 

Case 4:07-cv-00733-JMM Document 19 Filed 04/14/08 Page 2 of 2