Kumferman, Edward v. Crane Co., et al

Filing 111

Order remanding case from MDL. Case reopened. Signed by Jeffery N. Luthi, Clerk of the Panel on 7/8/14. (rep)

Case MDL No. 875 Document 9731 Filed 07/08/14 Page 1 of 2

UNITED STATES JUDICIAL PANEL
on
MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION

IN RE: ASBESTOS PRODUCTS LIABILITY
LITIGATION (NO. VI)

MDL No. 875

(SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE)

CONDITIONAL REMAND ORDER

The transferee court in this litigation has, in the actions on this conditional remand order: (1) severed
all claims for punitive or exemplary damages; and (2) advised the Panel that coordinated or
consolidated pretrial proceedings with respect to the remaining claims have been completed and that
remand to the transferor court(s), as provided in 28 U.S.C. §1407(a), is appropriate.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that all claims in the action(s) on this conditional remand order
except the severed damages claims be remanded to its/their respective transferor court(s).
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that, pursuant to Rule 10.2 of the Rules of Procedure of the United States
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, the transmittal of this order to the transferee clerk for filing
shall be stayed 7 days from the date of this order. If any party files a notice of opposition with the
Clerk of the Panel within this 7!day period, the stay will be continued until further order of the
Panel. This order does not become effective until it is filed in the office of the Clerk for the United
States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to Rule 10.4(a), the parties shall furnish the Clerk for
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with a stipulation or designation of the contents of the record
to be remanded and all necessary copies of any pleadings or other matter filed so as to enable said
Clerk to comply with the order of remand.

FOR THE PANEL:

Jul 08, 2014

_____________________
Jeffery N. Lüthi
Clerk of the Panel

Case MDL No. 875 Document 9731 Filed 07/08/14 Page 2 of 2

IN RE: ASBESTOS PRODUCTS LIABILITY
LITIGATION (NO. VI)

MDL No. 875

SCHEDULE FOR CRO

TRANSFEREE
DIST DIV. C.A.NO.
PAE 2 08−89863
* PAE

2

10−61429

TRANSFEROR
DIST DIV. C.A.NO.
ILN 1 99−05029
WIW

3

94−00799

* − denotes that the civil action has been severed.

CASE CAPTION
HAFFNER v. A.C. AND S. INC.
KUMFERMAN v. ASBESTOS CLAIMS
MANAGEMENT CORPORATION et al

Case MDL No. 875 Document 9731-1 Filed 07/08/14 Page 1 of 10

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Consolidated Under
MDL DOCKET NO. 875

IN RE: ASBESTOS PRODUCTS
LIABILITY LITIGATION {No. VI)

Fl ~EDTransferred

HAFFNER

v.
VARIOUS DEFENDANTS

from the Northern
JUN 2 4 201.Pistrict of Illinois
:
Case No. 99-05029
MICHAELE. KUNZ, Clerk
Gy_=-+-oep.eferlo. Pa No. 08-89863
SUGGESTION OF REMAND

AND NOW, this 23rd day of June, 2014, it is hereby
ORDERED that, upon review of the above captioned case under MDL875 Administrative Order No. 18, No. 01-875

(E.D. Pa. April 30,

2009), ECF No. 6197, the Court finds that, as to the abovecaptioned case:
a.) Plaintiff has complied with MDL-875 Administrative
Orders 12 and 12A (see the MDL 875 website's Administrative
Orders page, at http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875d.asp).
b.) Parties have completed their obligations under the Rule
16 order issued by the Court {see ECF No. 4).
c.) All discovery has been completed.
d.) The deadline to file summary judgment motions has passed
(see ECF No. 149). The Court has adjudicated all outstanding
motions, including dispositive motions.
e.) Rule 18 settlement discussions have been exhausted at
this time as to the remaining viable defendants.

1

Case MDL No. 875 Document 9731-1 Filed 07/08/14 Page 2 of 10

f.)

The Court finds that this case is prepared for trial

without delay once on the transferor court's docket, subject
to any trial-related motions in limine (including Daubert
challenges) .
g.) According to Plaintiff, the remaining viable defendants
for trial are:
i.

General Refractories Company

ii.

Maremont Corporation

h.) Any demand for punitive damages is severed, and claims
for punitive or exemplary damages are retained by the MDL875 Court. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 42(b).
Accordingly, the Court SUGGESTS that the abovecaptioned case should be REMANDED to the United States District
Court for the Northern District of Illinois for resolution of all
matters pending within this case except punitive damages. 1
Alternatively, parties have seven (7) days within which
to consent to a trial before an Article III or Magistrate Judge
in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

1

In such an event, if

The Court finds that the issue of punitive damages
must be resolved at a future date with regard to the entire MDL875 action, and therefore any claims for punitive or exemplary
damages are hereby SEVERED from this case and retained by the
MDL-875 Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. See In re
Collins, 233 F.3d 809, 810 (3d Cir. 2000) ("It is responsible
public policy to give priority to compensatory claims over
exemplary punitive damage windfalls; this prudent conservation
more than vindicates the Panel's decision to withhold punitive
damage claims on remand."); see also In re Roberts, 178 F.3d 181
(3d Cir. 1999) .
2

Case MDL No. 875 Document 9731-1 Filed 07/08/14 Page 3 of 10

consent is granted, a trial will be scheduled within sixty (60)
days, on a date convenient to the parties in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and the Suggestion of Remand will be vacated.

AND IT IS SO ORDERED.

3

Case MDL No. 875 Document 9731-1 Filed 07/08/14 Page 4 of 10

SUGGESTION OF REMAND MEMORANDUM
Updated April 7, 2014

To: Transferor Judge
From: Judge Eduardo C. Robreno, Presiding Judicial Officer, MDL 875
Re: Asbestos case that has been transferred to your court

Status of the case that has been transferred from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
This case has been transferred back to the transferor court, from the MDL 875 Court in the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
,,- ~ " "
Cases that are remanded to transferor courts are ordinarily ready for trial, pursuant to this Court's
Administrative Order No. 18 (see http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875d.asp).
Specific information regarding the history of a specific case while it was in the MDL 875 Court
can be found in the Suggestion of Remand (above) that the MDL Court submitted to the Judicial
Panel on Multidistrict Litigation in connection with its Order.

History of MDL 875, In re: Asbestos Products Liability Litigation
MDL 875, In re: Asbestos Products Liability Litigation, involves issues relating to personal injury
damages caused by asbestos products. It currently consists of about 3,000 cases transferred by the
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, which has been transferring cases to the Eastern District
of Pennsylvania since 1991. Each case typically consists of claims by multiple plaintiffs against
multiple defendants. Since its inception, the litigation has involved more than 100,000 cases and
up to ten million claims, including land-based and maritime claims ("MARDOC").
Beginning with Administrative Order No. 12 (see http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875d.asp) in
2008, the Court initiated an aggressive, pro-active policy to facilitate the processing of cases. The
policy involves giving newly transferred cases scheduling orders; setting cases for settlement
conferences; having motion hearings; and remanding trial-ready cases to transferor courts, or, in
the alternative, holding trials in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (if so requested by the
parties).

Resources available for transferor courts on the MDL 875 website
More information about the history of MDL 875 can be found on the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania's MDL 875 website at http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875a.asp. Additionally, all
Administrative Orders issued in this litigation (including current Orders and those no longer in
effect) can be found at http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875d.asp.
Also on the website is an Excel spreadsheet of all decisions issued by the Presiding Officer on
4

Case MDL No. 875 Document 9731-1 Filed 07/08/14 Page 5 of 10

substantive and procedural matters since 2008 (see http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875n.asp).
This spreadsheet is updated regularly, and it can be sorted by jurisdiction, case caption, subject
matter, party name, etc. It is also word searchable. The MDL-875 Court intends this spreadsheet
to be a helpful resource for transferor courts addressing issues similar to those already addressed
by the MDL-875 Court.
Other options available to assist the Transferor Court with legal research include searchable
databases created by LexisNexis and Westlaw. Directions on how to access these databases can be
found on http://www.paed.uscom1s.gov/mdl875n.asp.
Contact information for the MDL 875 Court

The MDL 875 Court is ready, willing and able to assist the transferor court with any matters
relating to the transfer of the case or any substantive or procedural issues that may arise.
You may contact the Presiding Judicial Officer ([e-mail]),
the MDL 875 law clerk ([e-mail] or [phone]), or the
Clerk's Office ([phone])) for further assistance.
Intercircuit Assignment Committee

The Intercircuit Assignment Committee of the Judicial Conference, under the leadership of Judge
Royce C. Lamberth of the District of Columbia, can assist in the identification and assignment of
a senior judge from another District who is ready, willing and able to preside over the trial of this
case. If appropriate, please contact Judge Lamberth at Royce C. [e-mail] or
[phone].
Special Master

The Court has designated Professor Francis McGovern to act as special master for remand
purposes to assist the trial and/or transferor court in any manner deemed appropriate by those
courts to insure the smooth and consistent remand of cases from MDL 875. If appropriate, please
contact Professor McGovern at [e-mail].
Additional information pertaining to MDL 875

The Presiding Judicial Officer has written an extensive article on the history and current status of
MDL 875 which may be helpful to the transferor judge. See Hon. Eduardo C. Robreno, The
Federal Asbestos Product Liability Multidistrict Litigation (MDL 875): Black Hole or New
Paradigm?, 23 Widener L.J. 97 (2014). The article can be found on Westlaw, or a PDF copy of the
article can be provided by contacting the MDL 875 law clerk.

5

r

Case MDL No. 875 Document 9731-1 Filed 07/08/14 Page 6 of 10

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
IN RE: ASBESTOS PRODUCTS
Consolidated Under
LIABILITY LITIGATION (No. v~llEDMDL DOCKET NO. 875

JUN :

KUM FERMAN

Transferred from the Western
of Wisconsin

2: 4 Z014nistrict

v.
VARIOUS DEFENDANTS

MICHAELE:KuNz,cFertse No. 94-00799
: Dep. Clerk
E.D. Pa. No. 10-61429

By

SUGGESTION OF REMAND
AND NOW, this 23rd day of June, 2014, it is hereby
ORDERED that, upon review of the above captioned case under MDL875 Administrative Order No. 18, No. 01-875

(E.D. Pa. April 30,

2009), ECF No. 6197, the Court finds that, as to the abovecaptioned case:
a.)

Plaintiff has complied with MDL-875 Administrative

Orders 12 and 12A (see the MDL 875 website's Administrative
Orders page, at http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875d.asp).
b.) Parties have completed their obligations under the Rule
16 order issued by the Court (see ECF No. 6).
c.) All discovery has been completed.
d.) The deadline to file summary judgment motions has passed
(see ECF No. 270). The Court has adjudicated all outstanding
motions,

including dispositive motions. Particularly

relevant rulings include:
i.

The motion for summary judgment of Defendant

1

Case MDL No. 875 Document 9731-1 Filed 07/08/14 Page 7 of 10

General Electric Company was granted in part
and denied in part (ECF No. 316).
ii.

The motion for summary judgment of Defendant
Crane Co. was denied (ECF No. 317).

e.) Rule 18 settlement discussions have been exhausted at
this time as to the remaining viable defendants.
f.)

The Court finds that this case is prepared for trial

without delay once on the transferor court's docket, subject
to any trial-related motions in limine (including Daubert
challenges) .
g.) According to Plaintiff, the remaining viable defendants
for trial are:
i.

Crane Co.

ii.

General Electric Company

iii. Goulds Pumps Inc.
iv.

John Crane Inc.

h.) Any demand for punitive damages is severed, and claims
for punitive or exemplary damages are retained by the MDL875 Court. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 42(b).
Accordingly, the Court SUGGESTS that the abovecaptioned case should be REMANDED to the United States District
Court for the Western District of Wisconsin for resolution of all

2

Case MDL No. 875 Document 9731-1 Filed 07/08/14 Page 8 of 10

matters pending within this case except punitive damages. 1
Alternatively, parties have seven (7) days within which
to consent to a trial before an Article III or Magistrate Judge
in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

In such an event, if

consent is granted, a trial will be scheduled within sixty (60)
days, on a date convenient to the parties in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and the Suggestion of Remand will be vacated.

AND IT IS SO ORDERED.

/;,.A.- ,. A,..c.t-t......
EDUARDO C. ROBRENO, J.

1

The Court finds that the issue of punitive damages
must be resolved at a future date with regard to the entire MDL875 action, and therefore any claims for punitive or exemplary
damages are hereby SEVERED from this case and retained by the
MDL-875 Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. See In re
Collins, 233 F.3d 809, 810 (3d Cir. 2000) ("It is responsible
public policy to give priority to compensatory claims over
exemplary punitive damage windfallsi this prudent conservation
more than vindicates the Panel's decision to withhold punitive
damage claims on remand."); see also In re Roberts, 178 F.3d 181
(3d Cir. 1999) .
3

Case MDL No. 875 Document 9731-1 Filed 07/08/14 Page 9 of 10

SUGGESTION OF REMAND MEMORANDUM
Updated April 7, 2014

To: Transferor Judge
From: Judge Eduardo C. Robreno, Presiding Judicial Officer, MDL 875
Re: Asbestos case that has been transferred to your court

Status of the case that has been transferred from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
This case has been transferred back to the transferor court, from the MDL 875 Court in the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Cases that are remanded to transferor courts are ordinarily ready for trial, pursuant to this Court's
Administrative Order No. 18 (see http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875d.asp).
Specific information regarding the history of a specific case while it was in the MDL 875 Court
can be found in the Suggestion of Remand (above) that the MDL Court submitted to the Judicial
Panel on Multidistrict Litigation in connection with its Order.

History of MDL 875, In re: Asbestos Products Liability Litigation
MDL 875, In re: Asbestos Products Liability Litigation, involves issues relating to personal injury
damages caused by asbestos products. It currently consists of about 3,000 cases transferred by the
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, which has been transferring cases to the Eastern District
of Pennsylvania since 1991. Each case typically consists of claims by multiple plaintiffs against
multiple defendants. Since its inception, the litigation has involved more than 100,000 cases and
up to ten million claims, including land-based and maritime claims ("MARDOC").
Beginning with Administrative Order No. 12 (see http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875d.asp) in
2008, the Court initiated an aggressive, pro-active policy to facilitate the processing of cases. The
policy involves giving newly transferred cases scheduling orders; setting cases for settlement
conferences; having motion hearings; and remanding trial-ready cases to transferor courts, or, in
the alternative, holding trials in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (if so requested by the
parties).

Resources available for transferor courts on the MDL 875 website
More information about the history of MDL 875 can be found on the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania's MDL 875 website at http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875a.asp. Additionally, all
Administrative Orders issued in this litigation (including current Orders and those no longer in
effect) can be found at http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875d.asp.
Also on the website is an Excel spreadsheet of all decisions issued by the Presiding Officer on
4

Case MDL No. 875 Document 9731-1 Filed 07/08/14 Page 10 of 10

substantive and procedural matters since 2008 (see http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875n.asp).
This spreadsheet is updated regularly, and it can be sorted by jurisdiction, case caption, subject
matter, party name, etc. It is also word searchable. The MDL-875 Court intends this spreadsheet
to be a helpful resource for transferor courts addressing issues similar to those already addressed
by the MDL-875 Court.
Other options available to assist the Transferor Court with legal research include searchable
databases created by LexisNexis and Westlaw. Directions on how to access these databases can be
found on http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl875n.asp.
Contact information for the MDL 875 Court

The MDL 875 Court is ready, willing and able to assist the transferor court with any matters
relating to the transfer of the case or any substantive or procedural issues that may arise.
You may contact the Presiding Judicial Officer ([e-mail]),
the MDL 875 law clerk ([e-mail] or [phone]), or the
Clerk's Office ([phone])) for further assistance.
Intercircuit Assignment Committee

The Intercircuit Assignment Committee of the Judicial Conference, under the leadership of Judge
Royce C. Lamberth of the District of Columbia, can assist in the identification and assignment of
a senior judge from another District who is ready, willing and able to preside over the trial of this
case. If appropriate, please contact Judge Lamberth at Royce C. [e-mail] or
[phone].
Special Master

The Court has designated Professor Francis McGovern to act as special master for remand
purposes to assist the trial and/or transferor court in any manner deemed appropriate by those
courts to insure the smooth and consistent remand of cases from MDL 875. If appropriate, please
contact Professor McGovern at [e-mail].
Additional information pertaining to MDL 875

The Presiding Judicial Officer has written an extensive article on the history and current status of
MDL 875 which may be helpful to the transferor judge. See Hon. Eduardo C. Robreno, The
Federal Asbestos Product Liability Multidistrict Litigation CMDL 875): Black Hole or New
Paradigm?, 23 Widener L.J. 97 (2014). The article can be found on Westlaw, or a PDF copy of the
article can be provided by contacting the MDL 875 law clerk.

5