IN RE WIRELESS TELEPHONE RADIO FREQUENCY EMISSIONS PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION

No. MDL 1421. No. CIV.01-MD-1421.

248 F.Supp.2d 452 (2003)

In re: WIRELESS TELEPHONE RADIO FREQUENCY EMISSIONS PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION. This Document Relates to: Pinney, et al. v. Nokia, Inc., et al. (D.Md.) Civil No. CCB-01-1456. Farina v. Nokia, Inc., et al. (E.D.Pa.), Civil No. CCB-01-3261. Gilliam, et al. v. Nokia, Inc., et al. (S.D.N.Y.), Civil No. CCB-01-3260. Gimpelson v. Nokia, Inc., et al. (N.D.Ga.), Civil No. CCB-01-3899. Naquin, et al. v. Nokia, Inc., et al. (E.D.La.), Civil No. CCB-01-3259.

United States District Court, D. Maryland.

March 5, 2003.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

H. Thomas Howell, Howell and Gately, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, for J. Douglas Pinney (CCB-01-1456), Plaintiff.

H. Thomas Howell, Howell and Gately, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, H. Russell Smouse, Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, John A. Pica, Jr., Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, for Patricia S. Colonell (CCB-01-1456), Plaintiff.

H. Russell Smouse, Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, for Francis J. Farina (CCB-01-3261), Garrett J. Naquin (CCB-01-3259), Plaintiffs.

H. Russell Smouse, Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, John CM. Angelos, Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, John A. Pica, Jr., Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, Peter G. Angelos, Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, for Crystall Gilliam (CCB-01-3260), Dimitri Mack (CCB-01-3260), Plaintiffs.

Michael Weinstock, Weinstock and Scavo PC, Atlanta, GA, Lead Attorney, for Riedy Gimpelson (CCB-01-3899), Plaintiff.

Burton Finkelstein, Finkelstein Thompson and Loughran, Washington, DC, Lead Attorney, Richard Maxwell Volin, Finkelstein Thompson and Loughran, Washington, DC, Tracy Diana Rezvani, Finkelstein Thompson and Loughran, Washington, DC, for Sarah Dahlgren (CCB-02-1669), Consol Plaintiff.

Adam Gonnelli, Farugi and Farugi, New York City, Lead Attorney, Carl B. Hilliard, Jr., Law Office of Carl B. Hilliard Jr., Del Mar, CA, for Gibb Brower (CCB-02-2089), Kim Brower (CCB-02-2089), Consol Plaintiffs.

Glenn Edward Mintzer, Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, H. Russell Smouse, Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, John CM. Angelos, Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, John A. Pica, Jr., Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, Peter G. Angelos, Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, for Linda Barrell (CCB-01-1456), Consol Plaintiff.

John CM. Angelos, Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, for Blaine Minogue (CCB-01-3260).

Michael Weinstock, Weinstock and Scavo PC, Atlanta, GA, Lead Attorney, Richard J. Capriola, Weinstock and Scavo PC, Atlanta, GA, for Brian Lane Barrett, Diana Barrett, Consol Plaintiffs.

Austin Tighe, Brobeck Phleger and Harrison LLP, Austin, TX, John B. Isbister, Tydings and Rosenberg LLP, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, Steven M. Zager, Brobeek Phleger and Harrison LLP, Austin, TX, for Nokia, Inc. (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3259, CCB-01-3260, CCB-01-3261).

Brian P. Quirk, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart and Moore LLC, New Orleans, LA, James

B. Irwin, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart and Moore LLC, New Orleans, LA, James P. Ulwick, Kramon and Graham, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, for NEC America, Inc. (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3259, CC01-3260, CCB-01-3261).

Charles L. Babcock, Jackson Walker LLP, Dallas, TX, Lead Attorney, David T. Moran, Jackson Walker LLP, Dallas, TX, Denis J. Charlesworth, Martin Snyder and Bernstein PA, Baltimore, MD, Gregg Lewis Bernstein, Martin Snyder and Bernstein PA, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, Ryan C. Wirtz, Jackson Walker LLP, Dallas, TX, for Ericson Wireless Communications, Inc. (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261).

J. Stan Sexton, Shook Hardy and Bacon LLP, Kansas City, MO, Lead Attorney, Michael D. Moeller, Shook Hardy and Bacon LLP, Washington, DC, Lead Attorney, for Sprint PCS Limited Partnership (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendant.

Leslie R. Cohen, Dickstein Shapiro Morin and Oshinsky LLP, Washington, DC, Mark H. Kolman, Dickstein Shapiro Morin and Oshinsky LLP, Washington, DC, Lead Attorney, for Audiovox Communications Corporation (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendant.

David L. Hanselman, Jr., Edward M. Crane, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher and Flom, Chicago, IL, Patrick R. Butler, Law Office of McGuire Woods LLP, Baltimore, MD, Ronald M. Cherry, Law Offices of Ronald M. Cherry, Towson, MD, Lead Attorney, Sheila L. Birnbaum, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher and Flom, New York City, Lead Attorney, for Nextel Communications, Inc. (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendant.

Laura Nachowitz Steel, Paul D. Krause, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman and Dicker LLP, Washington, DC, for Matsushita Corporation of America (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261).

Ray M. Aragon, Raymond B. Biagini, McKenna long and Aldridge LLP, Washington, DC, for Phillips Electronic North America Corporation (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendant.

Francis A. Citera, Greenberg Traurig PC, Chicago, IL, George C. Doub, III, George C. Doub PC, Baltimore, MD, George C. Doub, Jr., George C. Doub PC, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, William H. Murphy, III, George C. Doub PC, Baltimore, MD, William Hughes Murphy, Jr., William H. Murphy Jr. and Associates PA, Baltimore, MD, for Qualcomm Incorporated (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Sony Electronics, Inc. (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendants.

John B. Isbister, Tydings and Rosenberg LLP, Baltimore, MD, for Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendant.

Andrew M. Winick, Brown Diffenderffer and Kearney LLP, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, Paul D. Krause, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman and Dicker LLP, Washington, DC, Lead Attorney, for Sanyo North America, Inc. (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendant.

Jennifer Quinn Barabanov, Steptoe and Johnson LLP, Washington, DC, Mark F. Horning, Steptoe and Johnson LLP, Washington, DC, Stephen Anthony Fennell, Steptoe and Johnson LLP, Washington, DC, Stewart A. Baker, Steptoe and Johnson LLP, Washington, DC, Lead Attorney, Thomas M. Barba, Steptoe and Johnson LLP, Washington, DC, for AT&T Corp. (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendant.

Jane Fugate Thorpe, Alston and Bird LLP, Atlanta, GA, Laura Owens, Alston and Bird LLP, Atlanta, GA, M. King Hill, III, Venable Baetjer and Howard LLP, Towson, MD, Paul F. Strain, Venable Baetjer and Howard LLP, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, Scott Elder, Alston and Bird LLP, Atlanta, GA, for Verizon Maryland, Inc. (CCB-01-1456), Defendant.

Jane Fugate Thorpe, Alston and Bird LLP, Atlanta, GA, John Henry Lewin, Jr., Venable Baetjer and Howard LLP, BAltimore, MD, Laura Owens, Alston and Bird LLP, Atlanta, GA, M. King Hill, III, Venable Baetjer and Howard LLP, Towson, MD, Paul F. Strain, Venable Baetjer and Howard LLP, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, Scott Elder, Alston and Bird LLP, Atlanta, GA, for Verizon Communications, Inc. (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Verizon Wireless (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendants.

Brian Brooks, O'Melveny and Myers LLP, Washington, DC, Jane Fugate Thorpe, Alston and Bird LLP, Atlanta, GA, John Henry Lewin, Jr., Venable Baetjer and Howard LLP, Baltimore, MD, Laura Owens, Alston and Bird LLP, Atlanta, GA, M. King Hill, III, Venable Baetjer and Howard LLP, Towson, MD, Scott Elder, Alston and Bird LLP, Atlanta, GA, for Cellco Partnership (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendant.

Curtis S. Renner, Watson and Renner, Washington, DC, Thomas C. Watson, Watson and Renner, Washington, DC, Lead Attorney, for Cingular Wireless (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Cingular Wireless (CCB-01-1456), SBC Communications, Inc. (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendants.

Charles L. Perry, Arter and Hadden LLP, Dallas, TX, Lead Attorney, Richard Alan Dean, Arter and Hadden LLP, Washington, DC, Lead Attorney, for Cellular One Group (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendant.

Charles P. Goodell, Jr., Goodell DeVries Leech and Dann LLP, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, Eugene A. Schoon, Sidley Austin Brown and Wood, Chicago, IL, James A. Frederick, Goodell DeVries Leech and Dann LLP, Baltimore, MD, James W. Mizgala, Sidley Austin Brown and Wood, Chicago, IL, Tamar B. Kelber, Sidley Austin Brown and Wood, Chicago, IL, for VoiceStream Wireless Corporation (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3261), Defendant.

Elwood E. Swam, Hampstead, MD, John J. Nagle, III, Bodie Nagle Dolina Smith and Hobbs PA, Towson, MD, Lead Attorney, Winn C. Friddell, Bodie Nagle Dolina Smith and Hobbs PA, Towson, MD, for C.E.I., Inc. (CCB-01-1456), Defendant.

Maureen E. Murphy, Murphy and Murphy, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, for Baltimore Business Communications, Inc. (CCB-01-1456), Defendant.

Seamus C. Duffy, Drinker Biddle and Reath, Philadelphia, PA, for Comcast/Metrophone (CCB-01-3261), Defendant.

John A. Stewart, Jr., Hulse and Wanek, New Orleans, LA, Lead Attorney, Mark J. Jeansonne, Milling Benson Woodward, New Orleans, LA, for Radifone (CCB-01-3259), Defendant.

Kenneth L. Thompson, Piper Rudnick LLP, Baltimoe, MD, Michael E. Yaggy, Piper Rudnick LLP, Baltimoe, MD, Lead attorney, for Motorola Inc. (CCB-01-3259), Defendant.

Daniel S. Reinhardt, Troutman Sanders LLP, Atlanta, GA, Lead Attorney, Steven J. Hewitson, Troutman Sanders LLP, Atlanta, GA, for Southern Telecom Inc. (CCB-01-3389), Defendant.

Eugene A. Schoon, Sidley Austin Brown and Wood, Chicago, IL, Lead Attorney, for Powertel, Inc. (CCB-01-3389), Powertel PCS, Inc. (CCB-01-3389), Powertel/Atlanta, Inc. (CCB-01-3389), Defendants.

Alana Black Zielinski, Sutherland Asbill and Brennan LLP, Atlanta, GA, Alexander X Jackins, World Com Inc, Washington, DC, Elizabeth W. Boswell, Sutherland Asbill and Brennan LLP, Atlanta, GA, James A. Orr, Sutherland Asbill and Brennan LLP, Atlanta, GA, William D. BArwick, Sutherland Asbill and Brennan LLP, Atlanta, GA, Lead Attorney, for MCI Worldcorn Communications, Inc., Defendant.

Kevin B. Getzendanner, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, Atlanta, GA, Lead Attorney, Matthew T. Covell, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, Atlanta, GA, for Mitsubishi Wireless Communications Incorporated, Consol Defendant.

Jane Fugate Thorpe, Alston and Bird LLP, Atlanta, GA, John Beisner, O'Melveny and Myers LLP, Washington, DC, Paul F. Strain, Venable Baetjer and Howard LLP, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, for Verizon Communications, Inc. (CCB-01-2089), Consol Defendant.

Scott A. Hanfling, Kane Laduzinsky and Mendoza Ltd., Chicago, IL, Steven M. Laduzinsky, Kane Laduzinsky and Mendoza Ltd., Chicago, IL, Lead Attorney, for Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CCB-02-2089), Consol Defendant.

Bruce Kenneth Trauben, Dorsey and Whitney LLP, Washington, DC, Ralph A. Taylor, Jr., Dorsey and Whitney LLP, Washington, DC, Lead Attorney, for Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Inc. (CCB-02-2089), Consol Defendant.

Alicia C. Reynolds, Miles and Stockbridge PC, Baltimore, MD, Daniel R. Lanier, Miles and Stockbridge PC, Baltimore, MD, Lead Attorney, Nicole B. d Arcambal, D. Ancona and Pflaum LLC, Chicago, IL, Paul E. Freehling, D. Ancona and Pflaum LLC, Chicago, IL, Paul H. Vishny, D. Ancona and Pflaum LLC, Chicago, IL, for Telecommunications Industry Association (CCB-01-1456, CCB-01-3260, CCB-01-3261, CCB-01-3899), Consol Defendant.


MEMORANDUM

BLAKE, District Judge.

On June 21, 2002, the consolidated and renewed motion for remand filed by the plaintiffs in this multidistrict litigation was denied.1 Because the plaintiffs' claims amounted to a disguised attack on the validity and sufficiency of federal safety regulations regarding cell phones, I found that federal question jurisdiction supported removal. The defendants then filed their consolidated...

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