ORDER

NANCY J. ROSENSTENGEL, District Judge.

The next jury trial in the Depakote mass action will begin on May 23, 2017. Raquel, Sifuentes, Pyszkowski (E.P.), and Pyszkowski (C.P.) were selected as possible cases for the May 2017 slot. On several prior occasions, the Court has discussed the use of a Special Master to assist in preparation for trial. The need for assistance is directly related to the parties' presentation method in the current Depakote trials. For example, the latest Depakote trial in the Northern District of Ohio utilized "roughly 20 or so" video depositions. (Case No. 12-CV-52, Doc. 797, pp. 10-11). Such a large amount of video testimony will undoubtedly result in a multitude of deposition designations and objections that must be resolved before the trial can progress. Additionally, the concomitant preparation of several cases for the same trial slot will exponentially increase the volume of deposition designations that must be resolved within the same window usually occupied by one single case.

Given the massive and complicated workload the parties will be generating, the Court is strongly inclined to: (1) appoint the Honorable Daniel J. Stack1 as Special Master in this case, and (2) direct him to provide recommended rulings on some of the pretrial motions, including deposition designations, as well as other issues that may arise before trial. The Court urges the parties' to consent to this appointment, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53(a)(1)(A); however, it appears present circumstances may make this appointment appropriate even without party consent, pursuant to Rule 53(a)(1)(C).2

Judge Stack is directed file an affidavit directed to his experience and any potential conflicts on or before March 30, 2017. The parties shall file any objections to the Court's intent to appoint the Honorable Daniel J. Stack as Special Master in this case to perform the duties outlined above on or before April 3, 2017.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.