Last year, we collected all of the coordinated product liability proceedings created by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation from January 1, 2006, to the date of our post.
Today, we’re doing the same thing for 2007. We’re providing below the name of the MDL proceeding, the dates the motion for coordination was filed and granted, and the number of cases transferred under the original transfer order. We assume that most of these proceedings expanded after the original transfer order, so there are probably many more cases involved in each of them now.

In re Stand ‘n Seal Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1804

Filed 8/18/06 and ordered to be transferred on 1/5/2007

Transferee Judge and Court: Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., Northern District of Georgia

Nature of Suits: Consists of 11 pending actions against manufacturers and retailers of spray-on grout sealer products (including Roanoke Companies, Group, Inc.; SLR, Inc.; Aerofil Technology, Inc.; Innovative Chemical Technologies, Inc.; and the Home Depot U.S.A., Inc.) alleging respiratory injuries arising from use of the products and the failure adequately to warn about the risks of these alleged injuries.

In re CertainTeed Corp. Roofing Shingle Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1817

Filed 10/23/06 and ordered to be transferred on 2/15/2007

Transferee Judge and Court: Louis H. Pollak, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Nature of Suits: Consists of 2 pending actions against CertainTeed Corp. alleging negligence, strict liability, and warranty claims relating to allegedly defective roofing shingles.

In re Bluetooth Headset Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1822

Filed 11/16/06 and ordered to be transferred on 2/20/2007

Transferee Judge and Court: Dale S. Fischer, Central District of California

Nature of Suits: Consists of 13 pending actions against Motorola, Inc.; Plantronics, Inc.; GN Jabra North America; and GN Netcom, Inc. alleging that wireless mobile telephone headsets can cause noise-induced hearing loss and that manufacturers failed adequately to warn about the risks of that injury.

In re Mirapex Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1836

Filed 2/6/07 and ordered to be transferred on 6/22/2007

Transferee Judge and Court: James M. Rosenbaum, District of Minnesota

Nature of Suits: Consists of 58 actions against Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pfizer Inc. arising from use of Mirapex, a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, which alleged causes obsessive pleasure- and reward-seeking behavior, such as gambling.

In re Kugel Mesh Hernia Patch Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1842

Filed 2/28/07 and ordered to be transferred on 6/22/2007

Transferee Judge and Court: Mary H. Lisi, District of Rhode Island

Nature of Suits: Consists of 13 actions against C.R. Bard and its wholly-owned subsidiary Davol, Inc. alleging that implantable hernia patch can break and cause personal injury.

In re ConAgra Peanut Butter Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1845

Filed 3/6/07 and ordered to be transferred on 7/17/07

Transferee Judge and Court: Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., Northern District of Georgia

Nature of Suits: Consists of twenty actions against ConAgra Foods, Inc. asserting claims relating to consumption or purchase of allegedly contaminated peanut butter manufactured and packaged at ConAgra’s Sylvester, Georgia plant.

In re Pet Food Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1850

Filed 3/30/07 and ordered to be transferred on 6/19/07

Transferee Judge and Court: Noel L. Hillman, District of New Jersey

Nature of Suits: Consists of thirteen actions against Menu Foods, Inc. and other defendants stemming from recall of pet food products allegedly tainted by melamine found in wheat gluten imported from China and used in these products.

In re Avandia Marketing, Sales Practices And Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1871

Filed 6/11/07 and ordered to be transferred on 10/16/07

Transferee Judge and Court: Cynthia M. Rufe, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Nature of Suits: Consists of two actions against GlaxoSmithKline involving allegations that diabetes drug Avandia and related products (Avandamet and Avandaryl) cause an increased risk of heart attacks and other physical injuries and that GlaxoSmithKline failed adequately to warn of the alleged risks.

In re FEMA Trailer Formaldehyde Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1873

Filed 6/12/07 and ordered to be transferred on 10/24/07

Transferee Judge and Court: Kurt D. Engelhardt, Eastern District of Louisiana
Nature of Suits: Consists of four actions against manufacturers of trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the wake of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina contained materials that emitted hazardous levels of formaldehyde. The defendants include Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.; Fleetwood Canada, Ltd.; Gulf Stream Coach, Inc.; Jayco Enterprises, Inc.; Pilgrim International, Inc.; Starcraft RV, Inc.; and Thor Industries, Inc.