The first conference in the Xarelto MDL (In Re: Xarelto (Rivoroxaban) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2592, proceeding in the Eastern District of Louisiana, before the Hon. Eldon E. Fallon, took place on January 29, 2015. Judge Fallon, an experienced MDL presiding judge, has already set up a website for the MDL (http://www.laed.uscourts.gov/xarelto), with posts of orders and other pertinent information. This Court appointed liaison counsel, and such counsel have already acted proactively in investigating the use of a commercial provider for service of process and the use of software for completing and submitting plaintiff fact sheets online. The Court set deadlines for applications to the leadership committees for plaintiffs’ and defendants’ counsel and indicated that upon appointments to the committees, a meeting will be held to discuss the initial disclosures of the parties and information requested for inclusion in forms and fact sheets.
These developments set the tone for an orderly and organized MDL process. In addition the EDLA provides that attorneys admitted to practice and in good standing in any United States District Court are admitted pro hac vice in this litigation. As such, association of local counsel is not required. This is good news for all parties involved in the litigation, as streamlined procedures lowers the costs of litigation and makes timely and expedition litigation and resolution of claims a much more achievable goal.
The next status conference is set for late February. We look forward to hearing more about this case.
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