A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY
A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY
ATTEST
By Tanisha Spinner on Aug 18, 200et
I Fon iNE UNITED STATES
JUDICIAL PANEL ON
muLTUNSTRiCT LITIGATION I ciffilo i9‘3
UNITED STA UDICIAL PANF4L
on
MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATIO4.
IN RE: THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
SECURITIES, DERIVATIVE AND EMPLOYEE
RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT (ERISA) LITIGATION
TRANSFER ORDER UNITED STATES
JUDICIAL PANEL ON
MULTIDI STRI CT LITIGATION
Aug 18, 2008
FILED
CLERK'S OFFICE
MDL No. 1963
Before the entire Panel': Defendants The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (Bear Stearns) and
Alan D. Schwartz have moved, pursuant to 28 U.S.CJ 1407, for coordinated or consolidated pretrial
proceedings of the actions listed on schedule A in the Southern District of New York. The defendants'
motion encompasses fourteen actions in the Southern District of New York and one action in the
Eastern District of New York.' Plaintiffs in three Southern District of New York actions support
transfer of the outlying Eastern District of New York action to the Southern District of New York, but
emphasize the need for coordinated, but not consolidated, treatment of their actions.
After considering all argument of counsel, we find that these fifteen actions involve common
questions of fact, and that centralization under Section 1407 in the Southern District of New York will
serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of this
litigation. All actions share allegations regarding, inter alia, whether Bear Stearns and certain of its
current and former officers and directors knowingly made material misstatements or omissions
concerning the company's financial health that misled investors and caused investor inset when the
company's stock price fell in March 2008. Centralization under Section 1407 will eliminate duplicative
discovery, prevent inconsistent pretrial rulings, and conserve the resources of the parties, their counsel
and the judiciary.
The responding plaintiffs' concerns regarding the manner and extent of coordination or
consolidation of the pretrial proceedings can be presented to the transferee judge. The governing statute
contemplates transfer for "coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings." 28 U.S.C. § 1407(a).
Accordingly, we leave the degree of any coordination or consolidation to the discretion of the transferee
Judge Heyburn took no part in the decision of this matter.
' In addition to the actions included on the motion for transfer, four other actions are pending in the
Southern District of New York and one related action is pending in the Northern District of Georgia.
In light of our disposition of this docket, these actions and any other related actions will be treated as
potential tag-along actions. See Rules 7.4 and 7.5, R.P.J.P.M.L., 199 F.R.D. 425, 435-36 (2001).
EFTA00722096
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judge. See In re Pfizer Inc. Securities, Derivative & "ERISA" Litigation, 374 F.Supp.2d 1348, 1349-50
(J.P.M.L. 2005).
The Southern District of New York stands out as an appropriate transferee forum. No party has
opposed centralization in the Southern District of New York, and at least eighteen actions are already
pending in this district before one judge, who has significant experience presiding over multidistrict
litigation. Given the location of Bear Steams headquarters within this district, relevant documents and
witnesses can be expected to be found there.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, the action listed on
Schedule A and pending outside the Southern District of New York is transferred to the Southern
District of New York and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the Honorable Robert W. Sweet
for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings with the actions listed on Schedule A and pending
in that district.
PANEL ON MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION
.1. Frederick Motz
Acting Chairman
John G. Heyburn II, Chairman' Robert L. Miller, Jr.
Kathryn H. Vratil David R. Hansen
EFTA00722097
IN RE: THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
SECURITIES, DERIVATIVE AND EMPLOYEE
RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT
(ERISA) LITIGATION
SCHEDULE A MDL No. 1963
Eastern District of New York
Carmela Stance v. The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:08-1178
Southern District of New York
Samuel T. Cohen, et al. v. The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:07-10453
Eastside Holding, Inc. v. The Bear Steams Companies, Inc., et aL, C.A. No. 1:08-2793
Aaron Howard, et al. v. The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:08-2804
Razill C. Becher v. The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:08-2866
Estelle Weber, et al. v. The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:08-2870
Anthony Pisano, et al. v. The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:08-3006
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Foundation, et al. v. The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., et al.,
C.A. No. 1:08-3013
Hans Menos, et al. v. The Bear Steams Companies, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:08-3035
Ira Gewirtz, et al. v. The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:08-3089
Drew V. Lounsbury, et al. v. The Bear Steams Companies, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:08-3326
Shelden Greenberg, et al. v. The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:08-3334
Scott Wettersten v. The Bear Steams Companies, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:08-3351
Rita Rusin v. The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:08-3441
Lawrence Fink v. The Bear Steams Companies, Inc., et at., C.A. No. 1:08-3602
EFTA00722098
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation - Panel Attorney Service List Page
Nickel: 1963 - IN RE: The Bear Steams Companies Inc. Securities, Derivative and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Litigation
Status: Transferred on 08/18/2008
Transferee District: NYS Judge: Sweet, Robert W. Printed on 08/I 8/2008
ATTORNEY - FIRM REPRESENTED PARTY(S)
Aguilar, George C. °Piton: Fax Email:
ROBBINS UMF.DA & FINK LLP Bim (Derivatively/Behalf-Bear Steams Companies, Inc.).
610 West Ash Street
Suite 1800
San Diego. CA 92101.3350
Anders, David B.
wACBTELL LIPTON ROSEN & KATZ
51 West 52nd Street
New Vont, NY 10019 =>Pbone:
Spector. Wanes • Email
Brower, David A.P. m>Phon Fax: Email
BROWER P1V EN APC Cohen (Derivatively/Behalf-Bear Steams Companies, Inc.), Samuel T.
488 Madison Avenue
8th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Chepiga, Michael J. =>Pbone: En:
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP Molinaro, Jr., Samuel L.•
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017 Email
Federman, William B. =>Pbone ax: Email:
FEDER.MAN & SHERWOOD Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Foundation*. Keritsig George
10205 North Pennsylvania Avenue
Oklahoma City. OK 73120
Goldberg. Jill
SCHULTE ROTH & ZABEI. LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York. NY 10022 =>Pbone: En: Email
Greenberg, Alan C.•
Karp, Brad S. =>Pboae: ax: Eaton
PAUL WEISS RIFKIND WHARTON & GARRISON LLP Bear Steams Companies, Inc"; Canada' Trust Co.
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019-6064
Kamer. Jay B
SKADDEN ARPS SLATE MEAGIIER & FLOM LLP
Four Times Square
New York, NY 10036 =>Plione: En: Knell
Schwartz, Alan D.'
levy, Lester 1.. =Atone: Ella Faulk
WOLF POPPER LIP Weber (Ind/Behalf-The Bar Steams Companies. Inc.. Employee Stock Ownership Plan). Estelle':
845 Third Avenue Weber. Estelle'
New York. NY 10022
Loeser, Derek W.
KELLER ROHRBACK I.I.P Greenbergiii .=>Pborie: Fax Entail
Note: Please refer to the report title page for complete report scope and key.
EFTA00722099
(Panel AnorneySerWee Llatfor MDL 1.963 Continued) Page 2
ATTORNEY - FIRM REPRESENTED PARTY(S)
1201 Third Avenue
Suite 3200
Seattle. WA 98101
Markel, Gregory A. =>Phose: Fax Email
CADWALADER WICKERSHAM @ TAFT LLP Cayne, James E.; Farber, Jeffrey M.; Mayer, Jeffrey; Minikes, Michael
One World Financial Center
New York NY 10281
Mastro, Randy M.
GIBSON DUNN & CRUTOIER LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166-0193
Milk, Edwin J.
STULL STULL & BRODY
6 East 45th Street
Suite 500
New York, NY 10017 =>Phome: Fax: Email:
Henry•; Glickman, Carl D.4; Goldstein, Michael'; Hanington, DonaldJ.•; Nickell- Frank
T.•; Novelly. Paul A!: Salerno. Frederic V.': Tese, Vincent'; Williams,Jr., Wesley S.•
=>Phone:
Lotmsbury. Drew V •
Rabin. L Stephen =>Phone:
RABIN & PECKEL LLP Menos. Hans
275 Madison Avenue
Suite 420
New York, NY 10016
Rosenfeld. David Avi =>Pboae:
COUGHLIN STOIA GELLER RUDMAN & ROBBINS LIP Eastside Holding. Inc.'
58 South Service Road
Suite 200
Melville, NY 11747 Fax: Email:
Fat
Fax:
Rudman, Samuel H. =>Pbooe: Fax:- Eoai
COUGHLIN STOIA GELLER RUDMAN & ROBBINS LLP Becher. Razill C.
58 South Service Road
Suite 200
Melville, NY 11747
Silberstein, Milo =>Phone: Fax
DEALY & SILBERSTEIN Greenberg. Sheldon; Howard. Aaron
225 Broadway
Suite 1405
New York, NY 10007
Skimkk, Robert A. =>Phone: Fax: Email:
MEREDITH COHEN GREF.NFOGEL & SK1RNICK PC Fink, Law7ence-, Gewirtz, Ira; Pisan, Anthony; Rusin. Rita
One Liberty Pita
35th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Sokoloff, Richard
3245 Route Ill
Suite =>Plsone
Stance. Carmela
Note: Please refer to the report (tile page for complete report scope and key.
EFTA00722100
(Pond AnorneySmdee List for MDL 1.963 Coninsotd) Page 3
ATTORNEY - FIRM REPRESENTED PARTY(S)
Medford. NY 11763
Stone. Ralph M. =>Phone: En: Email:
SIIALOV STONE BONNER & ROCCO LLP W.:neaten, Scott
485 Seventh Avenue
Suite 1000
New York, NY 10018
Note: Please refer to the report title page for complete report scope and key.
EFTA00722101
📷 Images in this document (6 detected)
AI-generated factual descriptions of embedded images (llava:13b). These are searchable across the corpus.
[Image 1] The image shows a document that appears to be a legal or official letter. The document is titled "Transfer Order" and is dated August 1, 2008. It is addressed to a person named "JOHN DOE" and is from "MULTIMEDIA LITIGATION LABORATORY." The document includes a paragraph that discusses the transfer of a case to another location, mentioning a "Southern District of New York." There are also several nu
[Image 2] The image is a document scan, specifically a court schedule or court order. It lists the names of parties involved in a legal case, along with their respective attorneys and the case number. The document is from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The visible names include the plaintiff, defendant, and various attorneys representing the parties. The document als
[Image 3] The image shows a document that appears to be a list or table with several columns and rows. The visible columns include names, dates, and possibly other information. The rows contain entries with names, dates, and possibly other details. The document is partially obscured, with some sections redacted or blacked out, which prevents a full and accurate description of the content. The visible text i
[Image 4] The image shows a document with text, which appears to be a legal or official letter. The document is titled "Judge, Southern District of New York," and it is addressed to "The Honorable William H. Pauk," who is identified as the "United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York." The document is dated "January 14, 1997." The text of the document discusses a legal matter and includes a
[Image 5] The image shows a document with a table of information, which appears to be a list of names, possibly related to a legal case or a court proceeding. The names are listed in columns, with some columns containing additional information such as addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. The document is a scanned copy, and the text is not fully legible due to the resolution and angle of the scan.
[Image 6] The image shows a document with a header that reads "APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT." Below the header, there is a section titled "APPLICANT'S INFORMATION" with fields for "Name," "Address," "City," "State," "Zip Code," "Phone Number," "Email," and "Date." The document appears to be a form used for job applications, with blank spaces where personal information and contact details would typically be fi