United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.
JOHN G. HEYBURN II, Chairman.
Before the entire Panel [*]: Plaintiff in the Middle District of Florida action now moves, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings of this litigation either in the Western District of Missouri or the District of Kansas.[1] All responding parties agree that centralization is appropriate. At oral argument, movant and plaintiffs in more than twenty known actions narrowed their suggested transferee district to the District of Kansas. Some plaintiffs alternatively suggest the Central District of California, the Southern District of Florida, the Western District of North Carolina, the Northern District of Ohio or the Western District of Missouri. The Countrywide defendants[2] initially did not express a strong preference;[3] at oral argument, they also stated that they now support selection of the District of Kansas.
This litigation currently consists of six actions listed on Schedule A and pending in five districts as follows: two actions in the Central District of California and one action each in the Southern District of California, the Middle District of Florida, the Southern District of Florida and the Western District of Missouri.[4]
On the basis of the papers filed and hearing session held, we find that the actions in this litigation involve common questions of fact, and that centralization under Section 1407 in the Western District of Kentucky will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation. All actions share factual questions relating to the alleged failure of Countrywide to limit access to and/or adequately safeguard private customer information in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Centralization under Section 1407 will eliminate duplicative discovery; avoid inconsistent pretrial rulings; and conserve the resources of the parties, their counsel and the judiciary.
Given that this litigation involves 32 known actions pending throughout the United States, any number of districts would be an appropriate transferee forum. Accordingly, we have selected the Western District of Kentucky, where Judge Thomas B. Russell can guide this litigation ably.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, the actions listed on Schedule A are transferred to the Western District of Kentucky and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the Honorable Thomas B. Russell for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings.
Central District of California
Edmond Moses, et al. v. Countrywide Financial Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:08-5416
Laila Elkhettab v. Countrywide Financial Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:08-5809
Southern District of California
Kim Wickman v. Countrywide Financial Corp., et al., C.A. No. 3:08-1668
Middle District of Florida
Thomas A. Munz v. Countrywide Financial Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:08-707
Southern District of Florida
Richard Goldman, et al. v. Countrywide Financial Corp., et al., C.A. No. 0:08-61349
Western District of Missouri
Matthew B. Martin v. Countrywide Financial Corp., et al., C.A. No. 4:08-666
[*] Judge Vratil took no part in the disposition of this matter.
[1] The moving plaintiff initially sought centralization in the Middle District of Florida, but in a response filed by plaintiffs in nine actions (including moving plaintiff), movant favored selection of the Western District of Missouri or the District of Kansas.
[2] Bank of America Corp.; Countrywide Financial Corp. (Countrywide); Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.; Countrywide Bank, FSB; and Full Spectrum Lending Division.
[3] The Countrywide defendants generally suggested selection of a district in the Third, Sixth, Eighth or Eleventh Circuits or the Western District of North Carolina.
[4] The Panel has been notified that 26 related actions are pending in various districts. These actions will be treated as potential tagalong actions. See Rules 7.4 and 7.5, R.P.J.P.M.L., 199 F.R.D. 425, 435-36 (2001).
