Sylvester et al v. Menu Foods, Inc. et al

Filing 5

Attachment 2
Ex Parte MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer or Otherwise Respond to Plaintiffs' First Amended Complaint by Menu Foods, Inc., Menu Foods Holdings, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Declaration of Chad P. Love# 2 Exhibit A# 3 Order# 4 Certificate of Service)(Love, Chad)

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Sylvester et al v. Menu Foods, Inc. et al Doc. 5 Att. 2 Case 1:07-cv-00409-ACK-KSC 06/20/2007 12:44 FaX 2025022888 Document 5-3 JPML Filed 08/01/2007 Page 1 of 3 @ooe MuL+?88+A!#Liluo#,o, I J U N I Zml EELEASED FORPUBLICATION FILED C L E R K ' SOFFICE D O C K E TNO.I85O BEFORE THE JUDICIAL PANEL ON MWTIDISTRICT LITIGATIAN LIABILITY LITIGATION IN KE PET FOOD PRODUCTS BEFORE TYM, TERRELLHODGES,CHAIRMAN,D, LOWELL JENSEN,T. FREDEMCK MOTZ, ROBERT MILLER, JR,' KATHRYN H. VRATIL, L DAWD R IIANSEN AND ANTHONYJ. SCIRICA,JUDGESOF THEPANEL TRANSFER OR.DER This litiguion presently consists of thirteen actions listed on the attachcd ScheduleA and pending in eight disuicts as follows: five actions in the Westem Disaict of Washington; two actions in the Westcrn District of Arkansasl and one action each in the Ccnual District of California, the District of Connecticut,the SouthemDisuict of Florida, the Northem Districr of lllinois, the Disrricr of New Jersey,and the EasternDistrict of Tennessee.Before the Panel are three motions, pursuantto 2 8 U.S.C. $ 1407, that taken togetherseek centralizationfor coordinatedor consolidated pretrial proceedings all of theseactions-r All respondingpartiesagreethat centralization is appropriate,bur of differ regarding the most appropriarcrransfereedisrict for this litigation. ln favor of the Dstrict of New Jerseyas transfercedisrict are moving Cennal Dimict of Califomia and Southern District of Florida plaintiffs and plaintiffs in the Disuict of Connecticut,the District of New Jersey,and threeof the WesternDistrict of Washingtonactionsbeforethe Panel,aswell asplaintiffs in fourtcen potcntially related actions. Plaintiffs in two of the fivE Western District of Washington actions move for centalization in the Western Disrrict of Washington; plaintiffs in thc Easrem Disrrict of Teruressee action suppon centralizarionthere: and plaintiffs in the other three Westem District of Washington actions alternatively suppott cenEalization there. In favor of the Westem District of Arkansas as transferee disrict areplaintiffs in thetwo WesternDisuict of Arkansasactionsand the NorthernDistrict of Illinois action, and plaintiffs in six potentially relatedactions. Plaintiffs in rwo potentially related Distict of New Jerseyactionsalternativelysupportcentmlizarionin the WesrernDiitrict of Arkansas. Supporringthe NorthernDistrict oflllinois astraasferee district areall respondingdefendants, including M e n u Foods,hc., andits relatedentities, plaintiffsin onepotentiallyrelatcdaction. In favor of the and C e n t r a lDistrict of California as transferee discict are plaintiffs in nine potentially related actions. F i n a l l y , plaintiffin a potentiallyrelated NorthernDistrict of ohio acrionsuggesrs cenrralization the in Northern District of Ohio. Ott,,h" basisof the papercfiled and hearingsessionheld, the Panel finds that rfie actionsin this ' Judge Miller did not participate in the decision of rhis rnancr. noti.ficd of 97 potentially related acrionspending in multiplc fcderal drsu.icts. tn ligtrt o f the Panel'sdispositionof this docket,theseacdonswill be trearedasporentialiag-aiongactions. Rules -See 7 . 4 and ?.5, R.P.I.P.M.L.,199F.RD. 425,435-36 (2001). I Thc Pancl has been l',t'' " . t',.' r . . :: .': i . *, 'i : .!il i-:u t*: .. : Dockets.Justia.com Case 1:07-cv-00409-ACK-KSC vo/zu/zvu 7 lz:4 4 t A . t r 2025022999 Document 5-3 JPUL Filed 08/01/2007 Page 2 of 3 @o o s __ -2litigatiou involve cornrnonquestionsof fact, and that ceufralizationunder Section 1407 in the District of Nsw Jerseywill sewe the convanience ofthe partiesandwitnessesandpromote thejust andefftcisnt conduct of the litigation. A-ll actions stem Aom the recall of pet food products allegedly taintedby melamine found in wbeat gluten imported ftomChina andusedin theseproducts. Centralizationunder Section 1407is necessaryinorderto eliminateduplicadvediscovEry;avoid inoonsistent pretrial rulings, especiallywith respectto classcertification; andconserve resoruces the parties,their counseland of the the judiciary. AJthougb several diskicts coutd be described as an appropriale transferee forum for this nationwide litigation, we are persuadedto selectthe District of New Jersey. Pretial pmceedingsare advancingwell there and about one-third of all pending actionsarc alreadyin this district. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that, puffuaDt to 28 U.S.C. g 1407, rhe acrious lisred on ths artachedScheduleA and pending outside the District of New Jerseyare transferredro the Disrrict of New Jersey and, with the consent of that cour! assignedto the Honorable Noel L. Hillmarr for coordinatedor consolidatedpretrial proceedings with the actionspending thereand listed on Schedule A. FORTHE PANFL: <rV@ilV,aWm. Terrell Hodges Chairman ;i^", aa{j-i Case 1:07-cv-00409-ACK-KSC vo/ A v l L v v t |zi 4 u t s A , Lz u z 5 0 z z 8 8 8 _ Document 5-3 JpML Filed 08/01/2007 Page 3 of 3 @ool SCIIEDULE A Liabilitv Liti&rtion hoducts lyIDl*J850.. In reFa Food Westem Distict gf Arkarrsas Charles Ray,Sims,et al. v. Menu Foods Income Fund, et al., C.A. No. 5:07-5053 R i c h a r d ScottWiden,et aL v. Menu Footls,Inc., et aI., C.A. No. 5:0?-5055 enra{Pistript of Californi a -C S h i r l e ySextonv.Menu Foocls IncomeFund, et al.,C.A. No- 2:0?-1958 District of Connegticut L a u r i A. Osbornev.Menu Foods,Inc.,C.A. No. 3:0?-469 $outhern District of Flori da C h r i s r i n a Trolano v. Menu Foods,Inc., et al.,C.A, No. 0:07-60428 lgqrthern District of Illinois D a w n Majerczykv.Menu Foods,Inc.,C,A.No. l:07-1543 District of New Jcrsel J a r e d Worlonan,et al. v. Menu FoodsLtd-. et a/., C.A- No. l:07-1338 EasternDistrict of Tennessge L i z a j e a nHo[t, et aI. v. Menu Foods,Inc.,C.A.No. 3:07-94 Western District of Wgjthington T o m Waleyv MenuFoods,Inc.,et a/., C.A. No. 2:0?-41I StaceyHellen et al. v. Menu Foods, C.A No. 2:07-453 Audrey Kornelius, et al. v. Menu Foods, C.A. No. 2:O7-454 E. S u z a n n e Johnson,et al, v. Menu Fctods, C.A, No. 2:e7-455 M i c h e l e Suggea,et al. v, MenuFoods, et al.,C.A. No. 2:O7457 ! : " , f, ,' ''... ::, P " ;t '' ;' ' til ', ; ,; :, :,' .; ,r-..; j

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