PAUL A. CROTTY, District Judge.
On February 19, 2020, the Court held a Status Conference to receive an update on the Parties' progress in MDL No. 2859.
To date, there are one-hundred and eighty-five (185) filed cases in this multidistrict litigation ("MDL"). There are thirteen (13) active cases pending in various state courts. The Parties reported on the status of related litigation.
Adams v. Zimmer, 5:17-cv-00621-EGS, has been set for trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for June 15, 2020 and will take approximately two weeks.
Of the pending state court actions, the Parties reported that one case, Sells v. Zimmer, Inc., et. al., pending in New Mexico state court, is set for a trial starting on December 8, 2020.
The Parties also reported that the New Mexico Court of Appeals in McDonald v. Zimmer Inc. recently affirmed a verdict for Plaintiffs, with further appeals resolved prior to Zimmer's deadline to appeal to the New Mexico Supreme Court.
The Court heard argument on Defendants' motion pertaining to the Court's order regarding ex parte communication with Plaintiffs' treating physicians, Order No. 34, and Plaintiffs' request, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 32(a)(8), that the prior testimony related to the Products at issue be used as if taken in this litigation, reserving any and all trial objections the Parties may have to the use of the testimony. Plaintiffs' motion to compel adverse event and complaint data is fully briefed before the Court. The Court did not require argument on this motion.
The Court will issue its rulings on the above three matters by separate order.
The Parties highlighted for the Court the need to amend the scheduling order. The Parties will submit a joint proposed Third Amended Schedule for consideration. The Court will issue its ruling by separate order.
The next status conference will be held on April 16, 2020 at 10:00 AM. The conference will occur in
SO ORDERED.