Caceres Drywall Corporation v. National Gypsum Company et al

Filing 14

ORDER granting 8 Motion to Consolidate Cases. All further pleadings to be electronically filed to: 3:13cv31 only. Member Case: 3:13cv35, 3:13cv59 to be administratively closed; granting 11 Joint Stipulation/ Motion approvi ng extension of time to respond to complaint and other stipulated terms as set forth in 11 Joint Stipulation of parties including dismissal of Defendant Golden Eagle Industries Inc. w/o prejudice. Signed by Senior Judge Graham Mullen on 2/21/13. (bsw)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHARLOTTE DIVISION
CACERES DRYWALL
CORPORATION, Individually and on
Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated,
Plaintiff,
vs.
NATIONAL GYPSUM COMPANY
a/k/a NEW NGC, INC.; GOLDEN
EAGLE INDUSTRIES, INC. a/k/a
SPANGLER COMPANIES, INC.;
LAFARGE NORTH AMERICA INC.,
LAFARGE S.A. a/k/a LAFARGE
WORLDWIDE; AMERICAN
GYPSUM COMPANY LLC,
GEORGIA-PACIFIC LLC; USG
CORPORATION; L&W SUPPLY
CORPORATION; CERTAINTEED
CORPORATION; SAINT-GOBAIN
CORPORATION; SAINT-GOBAIN
S.A. a/k/a COMPAGNIE DE SAINTGOBAIN; TIN INC. d/b/a TEMPLEINLAND INC.; PABCO BUILDING
PRODUCTS, LLC,

CASE NO. 3:13-cv-31

Defendants.
JERRY R. BERKHOUS D/B/A
BERKHOUS DRYWALL &
CONSTRUCTION, Individually and
on Behalf of all Others Similarly
Situated,
Plaintiff,
vs.

CASE NO. 3:13-cv-35

NATIONAL GYPSUM COMPANY
a/k/a NEW NGC, INC.; GOLDEN
EAGLE INDUSTRIES, INC. a/k/a
SPANGLER COMPANIES, INC.;
LAFARGE NORTH AMERICA INC.,
LAFARGE S.A. a/k/a LAFARGE
WORLDWIDE; AMERICAN
GYPSUM COMPANY LLC,
GEORGIA-PACIFIC LLC; USG
CORPORATION; L&W SUPPLY
CORPORATION; CERTAINTEED
CORPORATION; SAINT-GOBAIN
CORPORATION; SAINT-GOBAIN
S.A.; TIN INC. d/b/a TEMPLE-

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INLAND INC.; PABCO BUILDING
PRODUCTS, LLC,
Defendants.
ERIEZ CONSTRUCTION, INC.,
Individually and on Behalf of all Others
Similarly Situated,
Plaintiff,
vs.
NEW NGC, INC.; USG
CORPORATION; UNITED STATES
GYPSUM COMPANY; L&W
SUPPLY CORPORATION;
LAFARGE NORTH AMERICA INC.;
CERTAINTEED CORP.; SAINTGOBAIN CORPORATION;
GEORGIA-PACIFIC LLC;
AMERICAN GYPSUM COMPANY
LLC; TIN INC. d/b/a TEMPLEINLAND INC.; PABCO BUILDING
PRODUCTS, LLC,
Defendants.

CASE NO. 3:13-cv-59

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STIPULATION AND ORDER
WHEREAS, currently pending before this Court are three civil actions alleging a
conspiracy to restrain trade in domestic drywall in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act
(the “WDNC Related Actions”), as follows:
Caceres Drywall Corp. v. National Gypsum Company, et al., C.A. 3:13-cv-00031.
Berkhous v. National Gypsum Company, et al., C.A. 3:13-cv-00035.
Eriez Construction, Inc. v. New NGC, Inc, et al., C.A. 3:13-cv-00059.
WHEREAS, other such Related Actions may subsequently be filed in this Court ;
WHEREAS, other related civil actions are pending or may be subsequently filed in any
other federal or state court making similar allegations as do Stipulating Plaintiffs (“Other Related
Actions”), including, but not limited to:
Innovated Services LLC, Inc. v. USG Corp., et al., 1:13-cv-00502 (N.D. Ill.);
Grant Lumber Pole Buildings, LLC v. USG Corp. et al., 1:13-cv-00697 (N.D. Ill.);
Janicki Drywall, Inc. v. CertainTeed Corp., et al., 2:12-cv-07106 (E.D. Pa.);
New Deal Lumber & Millwork Co., Inc. v. USG Corp., et al., 2:12-cv-07161 (E.D.
Pa.);
Sierra Drywall Systems, Inc. v. CertainTeed Corp., et al., 2:13-cv-00020 (E.D. Pa.);
Grubb Lumber Company, Inc. v. USG Corp., et al., 2:13-cv-00249 (E.D. Pa.);
Pitter v. CertainTeed Corp., et al., 2:13-cv-00384 (E.D. Pa.);
Glaser v. CertainTeed Corp., et al., 2:13-cv-00559 (E.D. Pa.);
Ivyland Builders, LLC v. USG Corporation, et al., 2:13-cv-00563 (E.D. Pa.);
Agbodike v. CertainTeed Corp., et al., 2:13-cv-00607 (E.D. Pa.); and
Oregon State Drywall, LLC v. CertainTeed Corp., et al., 2:13-cv-00620 (E.D. Pa.)

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WHEREAS, Plaintiffs in the WDNC Related Actions (“Stipulating Plaintiffs”) have
moved for consolidation of the WDNC Related Actions in this Court;
WHEREAS, Stipulating Plaintiffs intend to file a Consolidated Amended Complaint
after consolidation of the WDNC Related Actions;
WHEREAS, Stipulating Defendants include the undersigned and other Defendants
such as shall join in this stipulation in accordance with Paragraph Five, below.
WHEREAS, Stipulating Plaintiffs and Stipulating Defendants, by and through their
undersigned counsel, stipulate to the following Order:
1.

Defendants will not be required to answer or otherwise plead in response to

the complaints filed or any consolidated or amended complaints filed in the future in the
WDNC Related Actions until 30 days after a consolidated amended complaint is filed in a
transferee court. Plaintiffs will file their opposition to a motion to dismiss, if filed, within 30
days thereafter. In the event that the Motion for Consolidation and Transfer under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1407 is denied, the parties will confer within seven (7) days of the JPML’s order regarding
the due date for responsive pleadings in the WDNC Related Actions. No discovery shall be
served in the WDNC Related Actions while this stipulation is in effect.
2.

Stipulating Plaintiffs and Stipulating Defendants further stipulate and agree

that service of the individual complaints filed in the WDNC Related Actions upon their
counsel shall constitute valid and sufficient process and service of process under the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure, the U.S. Constitution, and any other applicable statute, rule,
regulation, or anything else having the force and effect of law.
3.

Except as to the sufficiency of process or service of process, Stipulating

Plaintiffs and Stipulating Defendants further stipulate and agree that the entry into this

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stipulation by the Stipulating Defendants shall not constitute a waiver of any jurisdictional
defenses that may be available under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a
waiver of any affirmative defenses under Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, or a
waiver of any other statutory or common law defenses that may be available to the
Stipulating Defendants in the WDNC Related Actions and the Other Related Actions. The
Stipulating Defendants expressly reserve their rights to raise any such defenses in response to
any operative or amended complaint that may be filed relating to this action.
4.

Defendants agree that they will seek a substantially similar stipulation in any

related action and, if they are unable to reach agreement, will file a motion to stay any related
action before filing a responsive pleading in those related actions;
5.

Further, and notwithstanding any other provision set forth herein, Stipulating

Plaintiffs and Stipulating Defendants hereby stipulate and agree if any Stipulating Defendant
answers, moves, or otherwise pleads in response to any complaint filed in any Other Related
Action before the date required by this stipulation, such Stipulating Defendant shall file an
answer, motion, or other responsive pleading in all WDNC Related Actions on the same day
as such answer, motion, or other responsive pleading is filed in any such Other Related
Action.
6.

Defendants agree that they will engage in a conference pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P.

26(f) with Plaintiffs within 14 days of appointment of lead counsel for the Plaintiffs in the
transferee court.
7.

Stipulating Plaintiffs and Stipulating Defendants further stipulate and agree

that this extension is available, without further stipulation, to all named defendants who
notify Stipulating Plaintiff in writing of their intention to join this Stipulation.

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8.

Plaintiffs agree to dismiss without prejudice Golden Eagle Industries, Inc.

A/K/A Spangler Companies, Inc., Lafarge S.A. A/K/A Lafarge Worldwide, Saint-Gobain
S.A. A/K/A Compagnie De Saint-Gobain within 10 days of entering into this Stipulation.
9.

Defendants agree to notify the Court by February 12, 2013, stating that

Defendants do not object to Plaintiffs Motion to Consolidate.
STIPULATED AND AGREED TO THIS 12TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2013.
By:
/s/ Larry McDevitt
Larry McDevitt
David Wilkerson, NC #35742
The Van Winkle Law Firm
11 North Market Street
Asheville, NC 28801
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Email: [e-mail]
Counsel for Stipulating Plaintiffs Caceres Drywall Corp. (3:12-cv-31); Jerry R.
Berkhous Drywall d/b/a Berkhous Drywall (3:12-cv-35); and Eriez Construction, Inc.
(3:12-cv-59), and the Proposed Class
Jay W. Eisenhofer
Linda P. Nussbaum
Peter A. Barile III
GRANT & EISENHOFER P.A.
485 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Michael D. Hausfeld
James J. Pizzirusso
Mindy B. Pava
HAUSFELD LLP
1700 K Street, NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Michael E. Criden
Kevin B. Love
CRIDEN & LOVE, P.A.
7301 S.W. 57th Court, Suite 515
South Miami, FL 33143
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Brent W. Landau
HAUSFELD LLP
1604 Locust Street, 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Counsel for Plaintiff Caceres Drywall Corp.
(3:13-cv-31), and the Proposed Class

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Arthur N. Bailey
ARTHUR N. BAILEY & ASSOCIATES
111 W. 2nd Street, # 4500
Jamestown, NY 14701
Tel: [phone]
Counsel for Plaintiff Jerry R. Berkhous
Drywall d/b/a Berkhous Drywall (3:13-cv35), and the Proposed Class
Steven A. Asher
Mindee J. Reuben
Jeremy S. Spiegel
WEINSTEIN KITCHENOFF & ASHER
LLC
1845 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Tel.: [phone]
Counsel for Eriez Construction, Inc. (3:13cv-59), and the Proposed Class

By:

/s/ David L. Hanselman, Jr.

David L. Hanselman, Jr.
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
227 West Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60606
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Attorney for Defendant AMERICAN
GYPSUM COMPANY LLC

By:
/s/ Rebecca Weinstein Bacon
Rebecca Weinstein Bacon
Bartlit Beck Herman Pelanchar & Scott LLP
54 West Hubbard Street
Chicago, IL 60654
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Attorney for Defendants USG CORPORATION, UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY,
and L&W SUPPLY CORPORATION

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By:
/s/ George A. Nicoud III
George A. Nicoud III
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
555 Mission Street, Suite 3000
San Francisco, CA 94105
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Attorney for Defendant GEORGIA-PACIFIC LLC

By:
/s/ Mark W. Nelson
Mark W. Nelson
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Attorney for Defendant LAFARGE NORTH AMERICA INC.

By:
/s/ Bradley C. Weber
Bradley C. Weber
Locke Lord LLP
2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 2200
Dallas, TX 75201
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Attorney for Defendant PABCO BUILDING PRODUCTS, LLC

By:
/s/ Everett J. Bowman
Everett J. Bowman
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
101 North Tryon Street, Suite 1900
Charlotte, NC 28246
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Attorney for Defendants NEW NGC, INC.

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By:
/s/ Robert A. Milne
Robert A. Milne
White & Case LLP
1155 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Attorney for Defendant CERTAINTEED CORPORATION

By:
/s/ James T. McKeown
James T. McKeown
Foley & Lardner LLP
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Attorney for Defendant TIN INC.

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PURSUANT TO STIPULATION, IT IS SO ORDERED.

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