In Re Medtronic, Inc., Implantable Defibrillators Products Liability Litigation

408 F. Supp. 2d 1351, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32807, 2005 WL 3452016

• Court: United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
• Decided: December 7, 2005
• Docket: 1726
• Status: Published

Opinion

TRANSFER ORDER

WM. TERRELL HODGES, Chairman.

This litigation currently consists of six actions in the Southern District of Florida, three actions each in the Middle District of Florida and the District of South Carolina, two actions each in the District of Minnesota and the Eastern District of New York, and one action each in the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Central District of California, the District of Connecticut, the Northern District of Illinois, the Western District of North Carolina, the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Eastern District of Texas, the Southern District of West Virginia and the Eastern District of Wisconsin as listed on the attached Schedule A. 1 Before the Panel are two motions, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, that taken together seek centralization for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings of these 25 actions. Plaintiffs in a Southern District of Florida action and an Eastern District of New York action seek centralization in the Southern District of Florida or, alternatively, the Eastern District of New York. Plaintiffs in both District of Minnesota actions seek centralization in the District of Minnesota. Common defendant Medtronic, Inc. (Medtronic) opposes both motions, but alternatively prefers centralization of only purported class actions in the District of Minnesota. Medtronic also proposes the Northern District of Illinois and the Eastern District of Wisconsin as potential transferee districts. All responding plaintiffs in actions before the Panel, as well as plaintiffs in potential tag-along actions, agree that centralization is appropriate. These plaintiffs divide their support among the Middle District of Florida, the Southern District of Florida and the District of Minnesota.

On the basis of the papers filed and hearing session held, the Panel finds that the actions in this litigation involve common questions of fact, and that centralization under Section 1407 in the District of Minnesota will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of this litigation. These actions share allegations that certain Medtronic implantable defibrillator devices, known as implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators, were defective and caused injury, or the threat of injury, to the plaintiffs and putative class members. Centralization under Section 1407 is necessary in order to eliminate duplicative discovery; prevent inconsistent pretrial rulings, especially with respect to class certification; and conserve the resources of the parties, their counsel and the judiciary.

Medtronic argues that centralization is inappropriate because the actions are factually dissimilar and dispositive motions are already pending in many actions. We disagree. Transfer of all related actions to a single judge has the salutary effect of fostering a pretrial program that: i) allows pretrial proceedings with respect to any non-common issues to proceed concurrently with pretrial proceedings on common issues, In re Multi-Piece Rim Products Liability Litigation, 464 F.Supp. 969, 974 (Jud.Pan.Mult.Lit.1979); and ii) ensures that pretrial proceedings will be conducted in a manner leading to the just and expeditious resolution of all actions to the overall benefit of the parties. The transferee judge, of course, may establish separate tracks for discovery and motion practice in any constituent MDL-1726 action or actions, whenever he determines that such an approach is appropriate.

The Panel is persuaded that the District of Minnesota is an appropriate transferee district for this litigation. Because Medtronic has its headquarters within the District of Minnesota, relevant discovery may be found there. Transfer to this district also provides a centrally located forum for actions filed in several locations nationwide.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, the actions listed on Schedule A and pending outside the District of Minnesota, with the exception of the Downes action discussed in the next paragraph, are transferred to the District of Minnesota and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the Honorable James M. Rosenbaum for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings with the actions listed on Schedule A and pending in that district.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that transfer of the Downes action listed on Schedule A and pending in the Southern District of Florida is deferred, at the request of the judge presently assigned to that action, so that he can rule on a motion that he plans to decide soon.

SCHEDULE A

MDL-1726 — In re Medtronic, Inc., Implantable Defibrillators Products Liability Litigation

Eastern District of Arkansas

Mike Nichols v. Medtronic, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 4:05-681

Central District of California

Chris T. Wilson v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 2:05-3321

District of Connecticut

Jeffrey Stein v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 3:05-670

Middle District of Florida

Earl Baker, et al. v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 3:05-440

Albert Rose v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 5:05-330

Jose Jimenez v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 8:05-1088

Southern District of Florida

Joyce Ware, et al. v. Medtronic, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 0:05-61468

Louis Blau v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 1:05-22386

David Downes v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 9:05-80746

Kathy Higginbotham v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 9:05-80747

Milton Yolles v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 9:05-80773

Harold Vantosh, et al. v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 9:05-80782

Northern District of Illinois

Marion Preston, et al. v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 1:05-4609

District of Minnesota

Peter M. Dudek v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 0:05-1252

United Food & Commercial Workers Union & Employers Midwest Benefits Fund v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 0:05-2074

Eastern District of New York

Raymond F. Manners, et al. v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 2:05-1617

Daniel Tineo v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 2:05-3929

Western District of North Carolina

Virgil H. Cook, et al. v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 1:05-247

District of South Carolina

Kenneth A. Willis, Sr., et al. v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 3:05-2020

Christopher J. Yahnis v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 4:05-1937

Marty W. Eldridge, et al. v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 8:05-1882

Eastern District of Tennessee

Jeffrey C. Kellar, et al. v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 4:05-42

Eastern District of Texas

John Daniel v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 5:05-119

Southern District of West Virginia

Dale Riggs v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 3:05-694

Eastern District of Wisconsin

Donald Zigman v. Medtronic, Inc., C.A. No. 2:05-617

1 . The Panel has been notified of fourteen potentially related actions pending in multiple federal districts. In light of the Panel's disposition of this docket, these 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).