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IN RE FLINT WATER CASES

IN RE FLINT WATER CASES

No. 5:16-cv-14498-JEL-APP.

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In re Flint Water Cases.

United States District Court, E.D. Michigan, Southern Division.https://leagle.com/images/logo.png

July 27, 2017.

Editors Note
Applicable Law: 28 U.S.C. § 1332
Cause: 28 U.S.C. § 1332 Diversity - Torts to Land
Nature of Suit: 240 Torts to Land
Source: PACER

Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Village Shores LLC, Plaintiff, represented by Andrew P. Abood , Abood Law Firm.

Village Shores LLC, Plaintiff, represented by Beth M. Rivers , Pitt, Dowty, Cary S. McGehee , Pitt, McGehee, Cynthia M. Lindsey , Cynthia Lindsey & Associates, Deborah A. LaBelle , Emmy L. Levens , Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC, Esther Berezofsky , Williams Cuker Berezofsky, LLC, Gregory Stamatopoulos , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Hunter Shkolnik , Napoli Shkolnik Law PLLC, Jessica B. Weiner , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Jordan W. Connors , Susman Godfrey L.L.P., Julie H. Hurwitz , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Kathryn Bruner James , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Michael L. Pitt , Pitt, McGehee, Paul F. Novak , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Stephen E. Morrissey , Susman Godrey L.L.P., Teresa Ann Caine Bingman , Law Offices of Teresa A. Bingman, Theodore J. Leopold , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC & William H. Goodman , Goodman and Hurwitz.

ANGELOS CONEY ISLAND PALACE, INC., Plaintiff, represented by Beth M. Rivers , Pitt, Dowty, Cary S. McGehee , Pitt, McGehee, Cynthia M. Lindsey , Cynthia Lindsey & Associates, Deborah A. LaBelle , Emmy L. Levens , Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC, Esther Berezofsky , Williams Cuker Berezofsky, LLC, Gregory Stamatopoulos , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Hunter Shkolnik , Napoli Shkolnik Law PLLC, Jessica B. Weiner , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Jordan W. Connors , Susman Godfrey L.L.P., Julie H. Hurwitz , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Kathryn Bruner James , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Michael L. Pitt , Pitt, McGehee, Paul F. Novak , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Stephen E. Morrissey , Susman Godrey L.L.P., Teresa Ann Caine Bingman , Law Offices of Teresa A. Bingman, Theodore J. Leopold , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, William H. Goodman , Goodman and Hurwitz & Andrew P. Abood , Abood Law Firm.

JAN BURGESS, Plaintiff, represented by Beth M. Rivers , Pitt, Dowty, Cary S. McGehee , Pitt, McGehee, Cynthia M. Lindsey , Cynthia Lindsey & Associates, Deborah A. LaBelle , Emmy L. Levens , Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC, Esther Berezofsky , Williams Cuker Berezofsky, LLC, Gregory Stamatopoulos , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Hunter Shkolnik , Napoli Shkolnik Law PLLC, Jessica B. Weiner , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Jordan W. Connors , Susman Godfrey L.L.P., Julie H. Hurwitz , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Kathryn Bruner James , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Michael L. Pitt , Pitt, McGehee, Paul F. Novak , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Stephen E. Morrissey , Susman Godrey L.L.P., Teresa Ann Caine Bingman , Law Offices of Teresa A. Bingman, Theodore J. Leopold , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, William H. Goodman , Goodman and Hurwitz & Andrew P. Abood , Abood Law Firm.

DAVID MUNOZ, Plaintiff, represented by Beth M. Rivers , Pitt, Dowty, Cary S. McGehee , Pitt, McGehee, Cynthia M. Lindsey , Cynthia Lindsey & Associates, Deborah A. LaBelle , Emmy L. Levens , Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC, Esther Berezofsky , Williams Cuker Berezofsky, LLC, Gregory Stamatopoulos , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Hunter Shkolnik , Napoli Shkolnik Law PLLC, Jessica B. Weiner , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Jordan W. Connors , Susman Godfrey L.L.P., Julie H. Hurwitz , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Kathryn Bruner James , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Michael L. Pitt , Pitt, McGehee, Paul F. Novak , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Stephen E. Morrissey , Susman Godrey L.L.P., Teresa Ann Caine Bingman , Law Offices of Teresa A. Bingman, Theodore J. Leopold , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, William H. Goodman , Goodman and Hurwitz & Andrew P. Abood , Abood Law Firm.

JOSHUA BOGGESS, Plaintiff, represented by Beth M. Rivers , Pitt, Dowty, Cary S. McGehee , Pitt, McGehee, Cynthia M. Lindsey , Cynthia Lindsey & Associates, Deborah A. LaBelle , Emmy L. Levens , Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC, Esther Berezofsky , Williams Cuker Berezofsky, LLC, Gregory Stamatopoulos , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Hunter Shkolnik , Napoli Shkolnik Law PLLC, Jessica B. Weiner , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Jordan W. Connors , Susman Godfrey L.L.P., Julie H. Hurwitz , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Kathryn Bruner James , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Michael L. Pitt , Pitt, McGehee, Paul F. Novak , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Stephen E. Morrissey , Susman Godrey L.L.P., Teresa Ann Caine Bingman , Law Offices of Teresa A. Bingman, Theodore J. Leopold , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, William H. Goodman , Goodman and Hurwitz & Andrew P. Abood , Abood Law Firm.

Michael Snyder, Plaintiff, represented by Beth M. Rivers , Pitt, Dowty, Cary S. McGehee , Pitt, McGehee, Cynthia M. Lindsey , Cynthia Lindsey & Associates, Deborah A. LaBelle , Emmy L. Levens , Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC, Esther Berezofsky , Williams Cuker Berezofsky, LLC, Gregory Stamatopoulos , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Hunter Shkolnik , Napoli Shkolnik Law PLLC, Jessica B. Weiner , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Jordan W. Connors , Susman Godfrey L.L.P., Julie H. Hurwitz , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Kathryn Bruner James , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Michael L. Pitt , Pitt, McGehee, Paul F. Novak , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Stephen E. Morrissey , Susman Godrey L.L.P., Teresa Ann Caine Bingman , Law Offices of Teresa A. Bingman, Theodore J. Leopold , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, William H. Goodman , Goodman and Hurwitz & Andrew P. Abood , Abood Law Firm.

SHERRY MULHERIN, Plaintiff, represented by Beth M. Rivers , Pitt, Dowty, Cary S. McGehee , Pitt, McGehee, Cynthia M. Lindsey , Cynthia Lindsey & Associates, Deborah A. LaBelle , Emmy L. Levens , Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC, Esther Berezofsky , Williams Cuker Berezofsky, LLC, Gregory Stamatopoulos , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Hunter Shkolnik , Napoli Shkolnik Law PLLC, Jessica B. Weiner , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Jordan W. Connors , Susman Godfrey L.L.P., Julie H. Hurwitz , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Kathryn Bruner James , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Michael L. Pitt , Pitt, McGehee, Paul F. Novak , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Stephen E. Morrissey , Susman Godrey L.L.P., Teresa Ann Caine Bingman , Law Offices of Teresa A. Bingman, Theodore J. Leopold , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, William H. Goodman , Goodman and Hurwitz & Andrew P. Abood , Abood Law Firm.

LAQUISHA JACOBS, Plaintiff, represented by Beth M. Rivers , Pitt, Dowty, Cary S. McGehee , Pitt, McGehee, Cynthia M. Lindsey , Cynthia Lindsey & Associates, Deborah A. LaBelle , Emmy L. Levens , Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC, Esther Berezofsky , Williams Cuker Berezofsky, LLC, Gregory Stamatopoulos , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Hunter Shkolnik , Napoli Shkolnik Law PLLC, Jessica B. Weiner , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Jordan W. Connors , Susman Godfrey L.L.P., Julie H. Hurwitz , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Kathryn Bruner James , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Michael L. Pitt , Pitt, McGehee, Paul F. Novak , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Stephen E. Morrissey , Susman Godrey L.L.P., Teresa Ann Caine Bingman , Law Offices of Teresa A. Bingman, Theodore J. Leopold , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, William H. Goodman , Goodman and Hurwitz & Andrew P. Abood , Abood Law Firm.

ZHANNA GARDIN, Plaintiff, represented by Beth M. Rivers , Pitt, Dowty, Cary S. McGehee , Pitt, McGehee, Cynthia M. Lindsey , Cynthia Lindsey & Associates, Deborah A. LaBelle , Emmy L. Levens , Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC, Esther Berezofsky , Williams Cuker Berezofsky, LLC, Gregory Stamatopoulos , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Hunter Shkolnik , Napoli Shkolnik Law PLLC, Jessica B. Weiner , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Jordan W. Connors , Susman Godfrey L.L.P., Julie H. Hurwitz , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Kathryn Bruner James , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Michael L. Pitt , Pitt, McGehee, Paul F. Novak , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Stephen E. Morrissey , Susman Godrey L.L.P., Teresa Ann Caine Bingman , Law Offices of Teresa A. Bingman, Theodore J. Leopold , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, William H. Goodman , Goodman and Hurwitz & Andrew P. Abood , Abood Law Firm.

EDDIE HAMMOND, Plaintiff, represented by Beth M. Rivers , Pitt, Dowty, Cary S. McGehee , Pitt, McGehee, Cynthia M. Lindsey , Cynthia Lindsey & Associates, Deborah A. LaBelle , Emmy L. Levens , Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC, Esther Berezofsky , Williams Cuker Berezofsky, LLC, Gregory Stamatopoulos , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Hunter Shkolnik , Napoli Shkolnik Law PLLC, Jessica B. Weiner , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Jordan W. Connors , Susman Godfrey L.L.P., Julie H. Hurwitz , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Kathryn Bruner James , Goodman and Hurwitz, P.C., Michael L. Pitt , Pitt, McGehee, Paul F. Novak , Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., Stephen E. Morrissey , Susman Godrey L.L.P., Teresa Ann Caine Bingman , Law Offices of Teresa A. Bingman, Theodore J. Leopold , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, William H. Goodman , Goodman and Hurwitz & Andrew P. Abood , Abood Law Firm.

Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, P.C., Defendant, represented by David C. Kent , Drinker Biddle Reath LLP, Philip A. Erickson , Plunkett & Cooney & Robert G. Kamenec , Plunkett & Cooney.

Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc., Defendant, represented by David C. Kent , Drinker Biddle Reath LLP, Philip A. Erickson , Plunkett & Cooney & Robert G. Kamenec , Plunkett & Cooney.

Leo A. Daly Company, Defendant, represented by David C. Kent , Drinker Biddle Reath LLP, Philip A. Erickson , Plunkett & Cooney & Robert G. Kamenec , Plunkett & Cooney.

Veolia North America, Inc., Defendant, represented by Michael R. Williams , Bush Seyferth & Paige PLLC & Cheryl A. Bush , Bush, Seyferth & Paige, PLLC.

Veolia North America, LLC, Defendant, represented by James M. Campbell , Campbell, Campbell, John A.K. Grunert , Campbell, Campbell, Michael R. Williams , Bush Seyferth & Paige PLLC & Cheryl A. Bush , Bush, Seyferth & Paige, PLLC.

Veolia Water North America Operating Services, LLC, Defendant, represented by Michael R. Williams , Bush Seyferth & Paige PLLC & Cheryl A. Bush , Bush, Seyferth & Paige, PLLC.

Governor Rick Snyder, Defendant, represented by Eugene Driker , Barris, Sott, Margaret A. Bettenhausen , Michigan Department of Attorney General, Morley Witus , Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, PLLC, Nathan A. Gambill , Michigan Department of Attorney General, Richard S. Kuhl , Assistant Attorney General, Todd R. Mendel , Barris, Sott & Zachary C. Larsen , Michigan Department of Attorney General.

State of Michigan, Defendant, represented by Margaret A. Bettenhausen , Michigan Department of Attorney General, Nathan A. Gambill , Michigan Department of Attorney General, Richard S. Kuhl , Assistant Attorney General & Zachary C. Larsen , Michigan Department of Attorney General.

Flint, City of, Defendant, represented by Frederick A. Berg , Butzel Long, Reed E. Eriksson , City of Flint, Sheldon H. Klein , Butzel Long & William Young Kim , City of Flint.

Daniel Wyant, Defendant, represented by Christopher B. Clare , Clark Hill PlC, Jordan S. Bolton , Clark Hill & Michael J. Pattwell , Clark Hill, PLC.

Nick Lyon, Defendant, represented by Margaret A. Bettenhausen , Michigan Department of Attorney General, Nathan A. Gambill , Michigan Department of Attorney General, Richard S. Kuhl , Assistant Attorney General & Zachary C. Larsen , Michigan Department of Attorney General.

Andy Dillon, Defendant, represented by Margaret A. Bettenhausen , Michigan Department of Attorney General, Nathan A. Gambill , Michigan Department of Attorney General, Richard S. Kuhl , Assistant Attorney General & Zachary C. Larsen , Michigan Department of Attorney General.

Adam Rosenthal, Defendant, represented by Allison M. Collins , Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. & Charles E. Barbieri , Foster, Swift.

Stephen Busch, Defendant, represented by Dennis K. Egan , Kotz, Sangster, Wysocki & Berg, P.C., Krista A. Jackson , Kotz Sangster Wysocki P.C. & Philip A. Grashoff, Jr. , Kotz Sangster Wysocki P.C..

Patrick Cook, Defendant, represented by Allison M. Collins , Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. & Charles E. Barbieri , Foster, Swift.

Michael Prysby, Defendant, represented by Allison M. Collins , Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. & Charles E. Barbieri , Foster, Swift.

Bradley Wurfel, Defendant, represented by Christopher B. Clare , Clark Hill PlC, Jordan S. Bolton , Clark Hill & Michael J. Pattwell , Clark Hill, PLC.

Edward Kurtz, Defendant, represented by Michael J. Gildner , Simen, Figura.

Gerald Ambrose, Defendant, represented by Barry A. Wolf , Barry A. Wolf, Attorney at Law, PLLC.

Dayne Walling, Defendant, represented by Reed E. Eriksson , City of Flint & William Young Kim , City of Flint.

Michael Glasgow, Defendant, represented by Brett T. Meyer , O'Neill, Wallace & Doyle, P.C..

Daugherty Johnson, Defendant, represented by Edwar A. Zeineh , Law Office of Edwar A. Zeineh, PLLC.

ORDER GRANTING IN PART THE WAID MOTION FOR CONSOLIDATION OF THE CLASS ACTIONS, APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM CO-LEAD CLASS COUNSEL, AND APPOINTMENT OF LIAISON COUNSEL FOR THE INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS [CASE NO. 16-cv-10444, DKT. 136], DENYING THE GUERTIN MOTION TO CONSOLIDATE CASES [CASE NO. 16-cv-12412, DKT. 165], HOLDING IN ABEYANCE BRIEFING IN ALL NON-CLASS ACTION FLINT WATER CASES, AND SETTING DATES

JUDITH E. LEVY, District Judge.

On July 26, 2017, the Court held a status conference regarding all pending Flint Water litigation before the Court.

A. Motions to Consolidate

At that hearing, the Court discussed pending motions to consolidate in Waid v. Snyder, Case No. 16-cv-10444, Dkt. 136, and Guertin v. State of Michigan, Case No. 16-cv-12412, Dkt. 165. For the reasons set forth on the record, the Waid motion is granted in part, and the Guertin motion is denied.

The Waid motion is granted as to Case Nos. 16-cv-10444, 16-cv-10796, 16-cv-11173, 16-cv-11247, 16-cv-12875, 16-cv-14498, 17-cv-10343, 17-cv-10360, and 17-cv-10799. The motion is held in abeyance regarding Case No. 17-cv-10996, in which a motion to remand to Michigan state court is pending. Once that motion to remand is decided, and if the Court retains jurisdiction over that case, an order will be issued consolidating that case with Case No. 16-cv-10444.

Newly-appointed interim co-lead counsel are ordered to file a master class action complaint in Case No. 16-cv-10444 on or before September 29, 2017. Defendants are ordered to file answers or responsive motions on or before December 1, 2017.

Pursuant to the grant of the motion to consolidate, Theodore Leopold of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC and Michael Pitt of Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers PC, are appointed interim co-lead counsel for the combined class, Corey Stern of Levey Konigsberg LLP and Hunter Shkolnik of Napoli Shkolnik PLLC are appointed as liaison counsel for all individual personal injury and property damage cases pending before the Court. Further, the Court orders the creation of an Executive Committee for the combined class action, whose membership will be recommended to the Court by interim co-lead counsel no later than September 29, 2017.

The above-named counsel will meet and confer with other plaintiffs' counsel and defense counsel regarding the specific duties of the co-lead counsel and liaison counsel so that a proposed statement of duties for these positions can be filed with the Court by September 29, 2017. Also by this same date, co-lead counsel will confer with all named defendants and file either a joint statement regarding agreed-upon preliminary discovery or separate statements addressing whether preliminary discovery is appropriate at this juncture in the combined class action, and statements regarding the appointment of a Special Master under Fed. R. Civ. P. 53 in Case No. 16-cv-10444.

B. Motion for Master Individual Complaint

Liaison counsel informed the Court during the status conference that they wish to file a motion permitting the filing of a master complaint in all individual personal injury and property damage cases pending in this Court. Liaison counsel are directed to file a motion to permit the filing of the master complaint in all individual cases within ten days of this order. The motion should be filed in Case No. 17-cv-10164, the earliest-filed active individual Flint Water case in which the liaison counsel have appeared.

Defendants are ordered to respond within fourteen days of the filing of the motion. All other plaintiffs' counsel in individual personal injury and property damage cases may also file responses to the motion within fourteen days. All dispositive motion briefing in all individual cases is held in abeyance pending a determination of the motion to file a master complaint.

C. Master Case Number

The Court will not establish a master case number at this time because all of the pending Flint Water cases are not consolidated.

D. Order of Consolidation

For the reasons set forth above, it is hereby ordered that:

Case Nos. 16-cv-10796, 16-cv-11173, 16-cv-11247, 16-cv-12875, 16-cv-14498, 17-cv-10343, 17-cv-10360, and 17-cv-10799 are consolidated with Case No. 16-cv-10444 for all purposes, including trial;

All subsequent papers filed after the date of this order regarding those cases shall be entered in Case No. 16-cv-10444; and

Case Nos. 16-cv-10796, 16-cv-11173, 16-cv-11247, 16-cv-12875, 16-cv-14498, 17-cv-10343, 17-cv-10360, and 17-cv-10799 are closed in light of the consolidation order.

It is further ordered that all pending dispositive motions in Case No. 16-cv-10444 (Dkts. 122, 124, 125, 131, 132, 135) are denied without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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