In Re Lifelock, Inc. Marketing and Sales Practices

582 F. Supp. 2d 1376, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90479, 2008 WL 4613561

• Court: United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
• Decided: October 17, 2008
• Docket: MDL 1977
• Status: Published

Opinion

TRANSFER ORDER

JOHN G. HEYBURN II, Chairman.

Before the entire Panel: Now before the Panel is a motion brought, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, by defendants LifeLock, Inc. (LifeLock) and Richard Todd Davis for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings of the nine actions listed on Schedule A. The motion encompasses two actions in the District of New Jersey and one action each in the District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, District of Maryland, Eastern District of Texas, and Southern District of West Virginia. 1

Moving defendants seek centralization in the District of Arizona. Plaintiffs in the District of Arizona action, one District of New Jersey action, the related District of Arizona action and the related Central District of California action have responded in support of the motion. Plaintiff in the related Northern District of Illinois action supports centralization but suggests the Northern District of Illinois as the transferee district.

On the basis of the papers filed and hearing session held, we find that these nine actions involve common questions of fact, and that centralization under Section 1407 in the District of Arizona will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of this litigation. All actions share allegations concerning the marketing, advertising and service guarantee offered by common defendant LifeLock. Centralization under Section 1407 will eliminate du-plicative discovery; prevent inconsistent pretrial rulings, particularly with respect to class certification issues; and conserve the resources of the parties, their counsel and the judiciary.

The District of Arizona stands out as the appropriate transferee forum. Two actions are already pending in the District of Arizona, and both moving defendants, and, with one exception, responding plaintiffs support centralization in this district. Also, given that common defendant LifeL-ock has its corporate headquarters in Arizona, relevant documents and witnesses will likely be found there.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, the actions listed on Schedule A and pending outside the District of Arizona are transferred to the District of Arizona and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the Honorable Mary H. Murguia for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings with the action listed on Schedule A and pending in that district.

SCHEDULE A

MDL No. 1977 — IN RE: LIFELOCK, INC., MARKETING AND SALES PRACTICES LITIGATION

District of Arizona

Byrl Lane v. LifeLock, Inc., C.A. No. 2:08-594

Central District of California

Robert Dillon v. LifeLock, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 2:08-4515

Southern District of Florida

Vilma Martinez-Azoy v. LifeLock, Inc., et al, C.A. No. 1:08-21989

Northern District of Illinois

James Kondrat, et al. v. LifeLock, Inc., C.A. No. 1:08-3244

District of Maryland

Gerald Falke, et al. v. LifeLock, Inc., et al, C.A. No. 1:08-1351

District of New Jersey

Jason Sbalcio v. LifeLock, Inc., C.A. No. 1:08-2799

Warren Pasternack, et al. v. LifeLock, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 3:08-2098

Eastern District of Texas

Tommy Ly v. LifeLock, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 2:08-242

Southern District of West Virginia

Kevin Gerhold v. LifeLock, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 2:08-857

1 . The parties have notified the Panel of three related actions pending, respectively, in the District of Arizona, the Central District of California and the Northern District of Illinois. These actions and any other related actions will be treated as potential tag-along actions. See Rules 7.4 and 7.5, R.P.J.P.M.L., 199 F.R.D. 425, 435-36 (2001).