Last October, a motion was filed with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate all cases pending in federal court around the U.S. to one judge.
On December 12, 2014, the Judicial Panel entered an order consolidating all cases to Judge Eldon Fallon of the eastern district of Louisiana in New Orleans.
On December 17, 2014, Judge Fallon entered his first pretrial order setting the date of the initial conference for January 29, 2014.
On January 6, 2015, over 100 plaintiffs' lawyers from around the nation met to discuss the coordination of this enormous litigation.
Pretrial Order No. 2 appointed Plaintiffs' Liaison Counsel and Pretrial Order No. 3 appointed defendants' liaison counsel.
A joint report from plaintiffs and defendants liaison counsel was submitted to the court.
And just yesterday, on January 29, 2015, the court held the initial status conference to a packed standing-room only courtroom.
Judge Fallon offered the following interesting statistic - over 30% of civil cases filed in the U.S. are in an MDL.
It was clear at the hearing that this litigation is going to move swiftly. If you represent a Xarelto claimant, it is strongly urged to obtain all medical records for each and every Xarelto claimant in the nation and do it quickly.
The court has set up a website at www.laed.uscourts.gov/Xarelto which will contain forms, court orders, minute entries, a calendar of upcoming events and other relevant information.
If you are a plaintiff's attorney, have filed a case in federal court and would like to serve on the plaintiffs' steering committee, your application must be filed with the court by February 2, 2015. Objections must be filed by February 5, 2015.
I will be attending the next Xarelto status conference is February 27, 2015, in New Orleans.
If you are a Xarelto claimant or an attorney representing a Xarelto claimant and would like assistance with the filing of your claim, contact us at molllawgroup.com or 312.462.1700 or 844-MOLLLAW. (844-665-5529.)