Opinion
No. 1782.
August 24, 2006.
BEFORE WM. TERRELL HODGES, CHAIRMAN, D. LOWELL JENSEN, J. FREDERICK MOTZ, ROBERT L. MILLER, JR.,fn_ KATHRYN H. VRATIL, DAVID R. HANSEN AND ANTHONY J. SCIRICA, JUDGES OF THE PANEL
Judges Motz and Miller did not participate in the decision of this matter.
TRANSFER ORDER
This litigation presently consists of six actions listed on the attached Schedule A as follows: two actions each in the Northern District of Alabama and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and one action each in the Northern District of California and the Northern District of Illinois. Before the Panel is a motion, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, by plaintiffs in one Pennsylvania action seeking centralization of all actions in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Plaintiffs in the California action support the motion. Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (Medco), its former parent Merck Co., Inc., (Merck) and PAID Prescriptions LLC (PAID) support centralization of the actions in which they are defendants (three of the six actions before the Panel) in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The Alabama and Illinois plaintiffs agree that centralization is appropriate, but suggest the Northern District of Alabama as transferee district. Defendants ExpressScripts, Inc.; Caremark RX and Caremark Inc.; and AdvancePCS oppose centralization. If the Panel deems centralization appropriate, they suggest selection of the Northern District of Illinois as transferee district.
Merck and Medco inform the Panel that PAID has merged with Medco and is no longer a separate entity.
AdvancePCS has been recently acquired by Caremark RX and is now known as CaremarkPCS.
On the basis of the papers filed and hearing session held, the Panel finds that the actions in this litigation involve common questions of fact, and that centralization in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation. All actions arise out of allegations that certain conduct by the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) defendants — including the negotiation of rates for the sale of prescription drugs by retail pharmacies — violated the federal antitrust laws. Centralizing these actions is desirable in order to avoid duplication of discovery, prevent inconsistent or repetitive pretrial rulings (especially on the issue of class certification), and conserve the resources of the parties, their counsel and the judiciary. See In re Managed Care Litigation, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15927 (J.P.M.L. Oct. 23, 2000).
Opposing defendants argue that unique questions of fact relating to each PBM should produce a different result. We are unpersuaded by this argument. While the contracts between each plan sponsor/PBM will spawn some unique discovery, all plaintiffs allege that these contracts create a price-fixing conspiracy. Moreover, all actions can be expected to focus on similar PBM practices and procedures. Some plaintiffs also allege that the PBMs conspired with each other to further the price-fixing conspiracies. Transfer to a single district under Section 1407 has the salutary effect of placing all actions before one court which can formulate a pretrial program that: 1) allows pretrial proceedings with respect to any non-common issues to proceed concurrently with pretrial proceedings on common issues, In re Multi-Piece Rim Products Liability Litigation, 464 F.Supp. 969, 974 (J.P.M.L. 1979); and 2) ensures that pretrial proceedings will be conducted in a manner leading to the just and expeditious resolution of all actions to the overall benefit of the parties. The MDL-1782 transferee court can employ any number of pretrial techniques — such as establishing separate discovery and/or motion tracks — to efficiently manage this litigation. In any event, we leave the extent and manner of coordination or consolidation of these actions to the discretion of the transferee court. In re Equity Funding Corp. of America Securities Litigation, 375 F.Supp. 1378, 1384-85 (J.P.M.L. 1974).
Given the geographic dispersal of constituent actions, any of the suggested transferee districts would be an appropriate transferee forum. We are persuaded that the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where two actions are currently pending, has the experience to steer this litigation on a prudent course.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, the actions listed on Schedule A and pending outside the Eastern District of Pennsylvania are transferred to that district and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the Honorable John P. Fullam for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings with the actions pending there and listed on Schedule A.
SCHEDULE A
MDL-1782 — In re Pharmacy Benefit Managers Antitrust Litigation Northern District of Alabama North Jackson Pharmacy, Inc., et al. v. Express Scripts Inc., et al., C.A. No. 5:03-2696
North Jackson Pharmacy, Inc., et al. v. Medco Health Solutions, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 5:03-2697
Northern District of California Mike's Medical Center Pharmacy, et al. v. Medco Health Solutions, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 3:05-5108
Northern District of Illinois North Jackson Pharmacy, Inc., et al. v. Caremark RX Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:04-5674
Eastern District of Pennsylvania Brady Enterprises, Inc., et al. v. Medco Health Solutions, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 2:03-4730
Bellvue Drug Co., et al. v. AdvancePCS, C.A. No. 2:03-4731