Joan Alston et al vs Pfizer Inc. et al

Filing 17

MINUTE ORDER IN CHAMBERS by Judge Cormac J. Carney: ORDER REMANDING CASE TO STATE. REOPENING CASE, remanding case to Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Case number BC30499. Accordingly, this case is HEREBY REOPENED and REMANDED to state court for the reasons articulated in the Courts orders dated May 23, 2017, and May 31, 2017, in the 17-00005 Case. (SAMC 17-00005-CJC(JPRx) Dkts. 20, 24.) (Made JS-5, Case reopened). CASE TERMINATED. MD JS-6. (twdb)

JS-6

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES – GENERAL
Case No. CV 17-00113-CJC(JPRx)

Date: June 21, 2017

Title: JOAN ALSTON ET AL. V. PFIZER INC. ET AL.

PRESENT:
HONORABLE CORMAC J. CARNEY, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Melissa Kunig
Deputy Clerk
ATTORNEYS PRESENT FOR PLAINTIFF:

None Present

N/A
Court Reporter
ATTORNEYS PRESENT FOR DEFENDANT:

None Present

PROCEEDINGS: (IN CHAMBERS) ORDER REMANDING CASE TO STATE
COURT
Thousands of women filed over 100 cases in California state court alleging that
Lipitor, a prescription drug developed and manufactured by Pfizer and marketed and
distributed by McKesson Corporation, had caused them to suffer from Type II diabetes.
The cases were removed to federal court based on “mass action” jurisdiction pursuant to
the Class Action Fairness Act (“CAFA”), referred to the United States Judicial Panel of
Multidistrict Litigation (“MDL”), subsequently sent back to this Court, and then
consolidated under a master case number for administrative purposes (the “17-00005
Case”). (SAMC 17-00005-CJC(JPRx).) On May 23, 2017, the Court remanded the cases
to state court, finding the requirements of CAFA mass action jurisdiction were not met.
(SAMC 17-00005-CJC(JPRx) Dkt. 20.) On May 31, 2017, the Court denied Pfizer’s ex
parte application to stay the Court’s decision pending an appeal (which Pfizer never
ultimately filed). (SAMC 17-00005-CJC(JPRx) Dkt. 24.)
Several cases, including this one, were not consolidated under the 17-00005 Case
prior to the issuance of the remand order. On January 12, 2017, the Court had stayed this
case pending a decision by the MDL regarding the transfer of this case to the MDL.
(Dkt. 14.) On February 27, 2017, however, the MDL was officially closed. Accordingly,
this case is HEREBY REOPENED and REMANDED to state court for the reasons
articulated in the Court’s orders dated May 23, 2017, and May 31, 2017, in the 17-00005
Case. (SAMC 17-00005-CJC(JPRx) Dkts. 20, 24.)
nk
MINUTES FORM 11
CIVIL-GEN

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