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titions for an extraordinary
writ to review an order to transfer or orders subsequent to
transfer shall be filed only in the court of appeals having
jurisdiction over the transferee district. There shall be no appeal
or review of an order of the panel denying a motion to transfer for
consolidated or coordinated proceedings.
(f) The panel may prescribe rules for the conduct of its business
not inconsistent with Acts of Congress and the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure.
(g) Nothing in this section shall apply to any action in which
the United States is a complainant arising under the antitrust
laws. "Antitrust laws" as used herein include those acts referred
to in the Act of October 15, 1914, as amended (38 Stat. 730; 15
U.S.C. 12), and also include the Act of June 19, 1936 (49 Stat.
1526; 15 U.S.C. 13, 13a, and 13b) and the Act of September 26,
1914, as added March 21, 1938 (52 Stat. 116, 117; 15 U.S.C. 56);
but shall not include section 4A of the Act of October 15, 1914, as
added July 7, 1955 (69 Stat. 282; 15 U.S.C. 15a).
(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1404 or subsection
(f) of this section, the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation
may consolidate and transfer with or without the consent of the
parties, for both pretrial purposes and for trial, any action
brought under section 4C of the Clayton Act.
-SOURCE-
(Added Pub. L. 90-296, Sec. 1, Apr. 29, 1968, 82 Stat. 109; amended
Pub. L. 94-435, title III, Sec. 303, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat.
1396.)
-REFTEXT-
REFERENCES IN TEXT
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (f),
are set out in the Appendix to this title.
Section 4C of the Clayton Act, referred to in subsec. (h), is
section 4C of act Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, as added by Pub. L.
94-435, title III, Sec. 301, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1394, which
is classified to section 15c of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
-MISC1-
AMENDMENTS
1976 - Pub. L. 94-435 added subsec. (h).
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 2112 of this title; title
15 section 78u; title 45 section 719.
-HEAD-
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE JUDICIAL PANEL ON MULTIDISTRICT
LITIGATION
-MISC2-
(ADOPTED FEBRUARY 26, 1981, EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 1981, AS AMENDED TO
APRIL 2, 2001)
I. GENERAL RULES/RULES FOR MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION UNDER 28 U.S.C.
SEC. 1407
Rule
1.1: Definitions.
1.2: Practice.
1.3: Failure to Comply with Rules.
1.4: Admission to Practice Before the Panel and
Representation in Transferred Actions.
1.5: Effect of the Pendency of an Action Before the Panel.
1.6: Transfer of Files.
5.1: Keeping Records and Files.
5.11: Place of Filing of Papers.
5.12: Manner of Filing of Papers.
5.13: Filing of Papers: Computer Generated Disk Required.
5.2: Service of Papers Filed.
5.3: Corporate Disclosure Statement.
6.2: Applications for Extensions of Time.
7.1: Form of Papers Filed.
7.2: Motion Practice.
7.3: Show Cause Orders.
7.4: Conditional Transfer Orders for "Tag-Along Actions".
7.5: Miscellaneous Provisions Concerning "Tag-Along
Actions".
7.6: Termination and Remand.
16.1: Hearing Sessions and Oral Argument.
II. RULES FOR MULTICIRCUIT PETITIONS FOR REVIEW UNDER 28 U.S.C.
SEC. 2112(A)(3)
17.1: Random Selection.
25.1: Filing of Notices.
25.2: Accompaniments to Notices.
25.3: Service of Notices.
25.4: Form of Notices.
25.5: Service of Panel Consolidation Order.
-HEAD-
I. GENERAL RULES/RULES FOR MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION UNDER 28 U.S.C.
SEC. 1407
RULE 1.1: DEFINITIONS
As used in these Rules "Panel" means the members of the Judicial
Panel on Multidistrict Litigation appointed by the Chief Justice of
the United States pursuant to Section 1407, Title 28, United States
Code.
"Clerk of the Panel" means the official appointed by the Panel to
act as Clerk of the Panel and shall include those deputized by the
Clerk of the Panel to perform or assist in the performance of the
duties of the Clerk of the Panel.
"Chairman" means the Chairman of the Judicial Panel on
Multidistrict Litigation appointed by the Chief Justice of the
United States pursuant to Section 1407, or the member of the Panel
designated by the Panel to act as Chairman in the absence or
inability of the appointed Chairman.
A "tag-along action" refers to a civil action pending in a
district court and involving common questions of fact with actions
previously transferred under Section 1407.
-SOURCE-
(As amended June 14, 1988, eff. July 6, 1988; Sept. 1, 1998, eff.
Nov. 2, 1998.)
-HEAD-
RULE 1.2: PRACTICE
Where not fixed by statute or rule, the practice shall be that
heretofore customarily followed by the Panel.
-SOURCE-
(As amended June 14, 1988, eff. July 6, 1988; Sept. 1, 1998, eff.
Nov. 2, 1998.)
-HEAD-
RULE 1.3: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH RULES
The Clerk of the Panel may, when a paper submitted for filing is
not in compliance with the provisions of these Rules, advise
counsel of the deficiencies and a date for full compliance. If full
compliance is not accomplished within the established time, the
non-complying paper shall nonetheless be filed by the Clerk of the
Panel but it may be stricken by order of the Chairman of the Panel.
-SOURCE-
(As amended June 14, 1988, eff. July 6, 1988; May 3, 1993, eff.
July 1, 1993; Sept. 1, 1998, eff. Nov. 2, 1998.)
-HEAD-
RULE 1.4: ADMISSION TO PRACTICE BEFORE THE PANEL AND REPRESENTATION
IN TRANSFERRED ACTIONS
Every member in good standing of the Bar of any district court of
the United States is entitled without condition to practice before
the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Any attorney of
record in any action transferred under Section 1407 may continue to
represent his or her client in any district court of the United
States to which such action is transferred. Parties to any action
transferred under Section 1407 are not required to obtain local
counsel in the district to which such action is transferred.
-SOURCE-
(As amended June 14, 1988, eff. July 6, 1988; Sept. 1, 1998, eff.
Nov. 2, 1998.)
-HEAD-
RULE 1.5: EFFECT OF THE PENDENCY OF AN ACTION BEFORE THE PANEL
The pendency of a motion, order to show cause, conditional
transfer order or conditional remand order before the Panel
concerning transfer or remand of an action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
Sec. 1407 does not affect or suspend orders and pretrial
proceedings in the district court in which the action is pending
and does not in any way limit the pretrial jurisdiction of that
court. A transfer or remand pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1407 shall
be effective when the transfer or remand order is filed in the
office of the clerk of the district court of the transferee
district.
-SOURCE-
(As amended June 14, 1988, eff. July 6, 1988; Sept. 1, 1998, eff.
Nov. 2, 1998.)
-HEAD-
RULE 1.6: TRANSFER OF FILES
(a) Upon receipt of a certified copy of a transfer order from the
clerk of the transferee district court, the clerk of the transferor
district court shall forward to the clerk of the transferee
district court the complete original file and a certified copy of
the docket sheet for each transferred action.
(b) If an appeal is pending, or a notice of appeal has been
filed, or leave to appeal has been sought under 28 U.S.C. Sec.
1292(b) or a petition for an extraordinary writ is pending, in any
action included in an order of transfer under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1407,
and the original file or parts thereof have been forwarded to the
court of appeals, the clerk of the transferor district court shall
notify the clerk of the court of appeals of the order of transfer
and secure the original file long enough to prepare and transmit to
the clerk of the transferee district court a certified copy of all
papers contained in the original file and a certified copy of the
docket sheet.
(c) If the transfer order provides for the separation and
simultaneous remand of any claim, cross-claim, counterclaim, or
third-party claim, the clerk of the transferor district court shall
retain the original file and shall prepare and transmit to the
clerk of the transferee district court a certified copy of the
docket sheet and copies of all papers except those relating
exclusively to separated and remanded claims.
(d) Upon receipt of an order to remand from the Clerk of the
Panel, the transferee district court shall prepare and send to the
clerk of the transferor district court the following:
(i) a certified copy of the individual docket sheet for each
action being remanded;
(ii) a certified copy of the master docket sheet, if
applicable;
(iii) the entire file for each action being remanded, as
originally received from the transferor district court and
augmented as set out in this rule;
(iv) a certified copy of the final pretrial order, if
applicable; and
(v) a "record on remand" to be composed of those parts of the
files and records produced during coordinated or consolidated
pretrial proceedings which have been stipulated to or designated
by counsel as being necessary for any or all proceedings to be
conducted following remand. It shall be the responsibility of
counsel originally preparing or filing any document to be
included in the "record on remand" to furnish on request
sufficient copies to the clerk of the transferee district court.
(e) The Clerk of the Panel shall be notified when any files have
been transmitted pursuant to this Rule.
-SOURCE-
(Added June 14, 1988, eff. July 6, 1988; amended Sept. 1, 1998,
eff. Nov. 2, 1998.)
-HEAD-
RULE 5.1: KEEPING RECORDS AND FILES
(a) The records and files of the Panel shall be kept by the Clerk
of the Panel at the offices of the Panel. Records and files may be
temporarily or permanently removed to such places at such times as
the Panel or the Chairman of the Panel shall direct. The Clerk of
the Panel may charge fees, as prescribed by the Judicial Conference
of the United States, for duplicating records and files. Records
and files may be transferred whenever appropriate to the Federal
Records Center.
(b) In order to assist the Panel in carrying out its functions,
the Clerk of the Panel shall obtain the complaints and docket
sheets in all actions under consideration for transfer under 28
U.S.C. Sec. 1407 from the clerk of each district court wherein such
actions are pending. The Clerk of the Panel shall similarly obtain
any other pleadings and orders that could affect the Panel's
decision under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1407.
-SOURCE-
(As amended June 14, 1988, eff. July 6, 1988; May 3, 1993, eff.
July 1, 1993; Sept. 1, 1998, eff. Nov. 2, 1998.)
-HEAD-
RULE 5.11: PLACE OF FILING OF PAPERS
All papers for consideration by the Panel shall be submitted for
filing to the Clerk of the Panel by mailing or delivering to:
Clerk of the Panel
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building
One Columbus Circle, N.E., Room G-255, North Lobby
Washington, D.C. 20002-8004
No papers shall be left with or mailed to a Judge of the Panel.
-SOURCE-
(As amended June 14, 1988, eff. July 6, 1988; May 3, 1993, eff.
July 1, 1993; Sept. 1, 1998, eff. Nov. 2, 1998.)
-HEAD-
RULE 5.12: MANNER OF FILING OF PAPERS
(a) An original of the following papers shall be submitted for
filing to the Clerk of the Panel: a proof of service pursuant to
Rule 5.2(a) and (b) of these Rules, a notice of appearance pursuant
to Rule 5.2(c) and (d) of these Rules, a corporate disclosure
statement pursuant to Rule 5.3 of these Rules, a status notice
pursuant to Rules 7.2(f), 7.3(e) and 7.4(b) of these Rules, a
notice of opposition pursuant to Rules 7.4(c) and 7.6(f)(ii) of
these Rules, a notice of related action pursuant to Rules 7.2(i),
7.3(a) and 7.5(e) of these Rules, an application for extension of
time pursuant to Rule 6.2 of these Rules, or a notice of
presentation or waiver of oral argument pursuant to Rule 16.1(d) of
these Rules. An original and eleven copies of all other papers
shall be submitted for filing to the Clerk of the Panel. The Clerk
of the Panel may require that additional copies also be submitted
for filing.
(b) When papers are submitted for filing, the Clerk of the Panel
shall endorse thereon the date for filing.
(c) Copies of motions for transfer of an action or actions
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1407 shall be filed in each district
court in which an action is pending that will be affected by the
motion. Copies of a motion for remand pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sec.
1407 shall be filed in the Section 1407 transferee district court
in which any action affected by the motion is pending.
(d) Papers requiring only an original may be faxed to the Panel
office with prior approval of the Clerk of the Panel. No papers
requiring multiple copies shall be accepted via fax.
-SOURCE-
(As amended June 14, 1988, eff. July 6, 1988; May 3, 1993, eff.
July 1, 1993; Sept. 1, 1998, eff. Nov. 2, 1998; Apr. 2, 2001, eff.
Apr. 2, 2001.)
-HEAD-
RULE 5.13: FILING OF PAPERS: COMPUTER GENERATED DISK REQUIRED
(a) Whenever an original paper and eleven copies is required to
be submitted for filing to the Clerk of the Panel pursuant to Rule
5.12(a) of these Rules, and where a party is represented by
counsel, one copy of that paper must also be submitted on a
computer readable disk and shall be filed at the time the party's
paper is filed. The disk shall contain the entire paper exclusive
of computer non-generated exhibits. The label of the disk shall
include i) "MDL #__," ii) an abbreviated version of the MDL
descriptive title, or other appropriate descriptive title, if not
yet designated by the Panel, iii) the identity of the type of paper
being filed (i.e. motion, response, reply, etc.), iv) the name of
the counsel who signed the paper, and v) the first named
represented party on the paper.
(b) The paper must be on a 3 1/2 inch disk in WordPerfect for
Windows format.
(c) One copy of the disk may be served on each party separately
represented by counsel. If a party chooses to serve a copy of the
disk, the proof of service, as required by Rule 5.2 of these Rules,
must indicate service of the paper in both paper and electronic
format.
(d) A party may be relieved from the requirements of this Rule by
submitting a written application for a waiver, in a timely manner
in advance of submission of the paper, certifying that compliance
with the Rule would impose undue hardship, that the text of the
paper is not available on disk, or that other unusual circumstances
preclude compliance with this Rule. The requirements of this Rule
shall not apply to parties appearing pro se. Papers embraced by
this Rule and submitted by counsel after June 1, 2000 without a
computer disk copy or Panel-approved waiver of the requirements of
this Rule shall be governed by Rule 1.3 of these Rules.
-SOURCE-
(Added May 22, 2000, eff. June 1, 2000.)
-HEAD-
RULE 5.2: SERVICE OF PAPERS FILED
(a) All papers filed with the Clerk of the Panel shall be
accompanied by proof of previous or simultaneous service on all
other parties in all actions involved in the litigation. Service
and proof of service shall be made as provided in Rules 5 and 6 of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The proof of service shall
indicate the name and complete address of each person served and
shall indicate the party represented by each. If a party is not
represented by counsel, the proof of service shall indicate the
name of the party and the party's last known address. The proof of
service shall indicate why any person named as a party in a
constituent complaint was not served with the Section 1407
pleading. The original proof of service shall be filed with the
Clerk of the Panel and copies thereof shall be sent to each person
included within the proof of service. After the "Panel Service
List" described in subsection (d) of this Rule has been received
from the Clerk of the Panel, the "Panel Service List" shall be
utilized for service of responses to motions and all other filings.
In such instances, the "Panel Service List" shall be attached to
the proof of service and shall be supplemented in the proof of
service in the event of the presence of additional parties or
subsequent corrections relating to any party, counsel or address
already on the "Panel Service List."
(b) The proof of service pertaining to motions for transfer of
actions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1407 shall certify that copies
of the motions have been mailed or otherwise delivered for filing
to the clerk of each district court in which an action is pending
that will be affected by the motion. The proof of service
pertaining to a motion for remand pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1407
shall certify that a copy of the motion has been mailed or
otherwise delivered for filing to the clerk of the Section 1407
transferee district court in which any action affected by the
motion is pending.
(c) Within eleven days of filing of a motion to transfer, an
order to show cause or a conditional transfer order, each party or
designated attorney shall notify the Clerk of the Panel, in
writing, of the name and address of the attorney designated to
receive service of all pleadings, notices, orders and other papers
relating to practice before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict
Litigation. Only one attorney shall be designated for each party.
Any party not represented by counsel shall be served by mailing
such pleadings to the party's last known address. Requests for an
extension of time to file the designation of attorney shall not be
granted except in extraordinary circumstances.
(d) In order to facilitate compliance with subsection (a) of this
Rule, the Clerk of the Panel shall prepare and serve on all counsel
and parties not represented by counsel, a "Panel Service List"
containing the names and addresses of the designated attorneys and
the party or parties they represent in the actions under
consideration by the Panel and the names and addresses of the
parties not represented by counsel in the actions under
consideration by the Panel. After the "Panel Service List" has been
received from the Clerk of the Panel, notice of subsequent
corrections relating to any party, counsel or address on the "Panel
Service List" shall be served on all other parties in all actions
involved in the litigation.
(e) If following transfer of any group of multidistrict
litigation, the transferee district court appoints liaison counsel,
this Rule shall be satisfied by serving each party in each affected
action and all liaison counsel. Liaison counsel designated by the
transferee district court shall receive copies of all Panel orders
concerning their particular litigation and shall be responsible for
distribution to the parties for whom he or she serves as liaison
counsel.
-SOURCE-
(As amended June 14, 1988, eff. July 6, 1988; May 3, 1993, eff.
July 1, 1993; Sept. 1, 1998, eff. Nov. 2, 1998.)
-HEAD-
RULE 5.3: CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
(a) Any nongovernmental corporate party to a matter before the
Panel shall file a statement identifying all its parent
corporations and listing any publicly held company that owns 10% or
more of the party's stock.
(b) A party shall file the corporate disclosure statement within
eleven days of the filing of a motion to transfer or remand, an
order to show cause, or a motion to vacate a conditional transfer
order or a conditional remand order.
(c) Once a corporate disclosure statement by a party has been
filed in an MDL docket pursuant to subsection (b) of this Rule,
such a party is required to update the statement to reflect any
change in the information therein i) until the matter before the
Panel is decided, and ii) within eleven days of the filing of any
subsequent motion to transfer or remand, order to show cause, or
motion to vacate a conditional transfer order or a conditional
remand order in that docket.
-SOURCE-
(Added Apr. 2, 2001, eff. Apr. 2, 2001.)
-HEAD-
RULE 6.2: APPLICATIONS FOR EXTENSIONS OF TIME
Any application for an extension of time to file a pleading or
perform an act required by these Rules must be in writing, must
request a specific number of additional days and may be acted upon
by the Clerk of the Panel. Such an application will be evaluated in
relation to the impact on the Panel's calendar as well as on the
basis of the reasons set forth in support of the application. Any
party aggrieved by the Clerk of the Panel's action on such
application may submit its objections to the Panel for
consideration. Absent exceptional circumstances, no extensions of
time shall be granted to file a notice of opposition to either a
conditional transfer order or a conditional remand order. All
applications for extensions of time shall be filed and served in
conformity with Rules 5.12, 5.2 and 7.1 of these Rules.
-SOURCE-
(As amended June 14, 1988, eff. July 6, 1988; May 3, 1993, eff.
July 1, 1993; Sept. 1, 1998, eff. Nov. 2, 1998.)
-HEAD-
RULE 7.1: FORM OF PAPERS FILED
(a) Averments in any motion seeking action by the Panel shall be
made in numbered paragraphs, each of which shall be limited, as far
as practicable, to a statement of a single factual averment.
(b) Responses to averments in motions shall be made in numbered
paragraphs, each of which shall correspond to the number of the
paragraph of the motion to which the responsive paragraph is
directed. Each responsive paragraph shall admit or deny wholly or
in part the averment of the motion, and shall contain the
respondent's version of the subject matter when the averment or the
motion is not wholly admitted.
(c) Each pleading filed shall be:
(i) flat and unfolded;
(ii) plainly written, typed in double space, printed or
prepared by means of a duplicating process, without erasures or
interlineations which materially deface it;
(iii) on opaque, unglazed, white paper (not onionskin);
(iv) approximately 8 1/2 * 11 inches in size; and
(v) fastened at the top-left corner without side binding or
front or back covers.
(d) The heading on the first page of each pleading shall commence
not less than three inches from the top of the page. Each pleading
shall bear the heading "Before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict
Litigation," the identification "MDL Docket No. __" and the
descriptive title designated by the Panel for the litigation
involved. If the Panel has not yet designated a title, an
appropriate descriptive title shall be used.
(e) The final page of each pleading shall contain the name,
address and telephone number of the attorney or party in active
charge of the case. Each attorney shall also include the name of
each party represented.
(f) Except with the approval of the Panel, each brief submitted
for filing with the Panel shall be limited to twenty pages,
exclusive of exhibits. Absent exceptional circumstances, motions to
exceed page limits shall not be granted.
(g) Exhibits exceeding a cumulative
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