The 5 member judicial panel on MultiDistrict Litigation has ordered DePuy hip implant lawsuits be consolidated under Judge David A. Katz, a federal judge appointed by President Bill Clinton in the 1990’s. In their decision, the judicial panel noted that Judge Katz “is an experienced transferee judge with the time and experience necessary to steer this litigation on a prudent course.” The 5 member panel consists of Judges David R. Hansen, Acting Chair, W. Royal Furgeson, Jr., Barbara S. Jones, Frank C. Damrell, Jr., and Paul J. Barbadoro.
Judge Katz has prior experience handling complex MDL cases since one of his most recent MDL’s concerned litigation involving the contraceptive Ortho Evra.
The panel also explained why the Northern District of Ohio (Toledo) was an appropriate venue for the MDL. The judges cited the city’s accessibility as well as several potential “tag along” actions already pending in the court.