Mears

UNITED STATES JUDICIAL PANEL

on

MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION

IN RE: ALL-CLAD METALCRAFTERS, LLC,

COOKWARE MARKETING AND SALES

PRACTICES LITIGATION MDL No. 2988

TRANSFER ORDER

Before the Panel:* Defendants All-Clad Metalcrafters, LLC and Groupe SEB USA, Inc. (collectively, All-Clad) move under 28 U.S.C. § 1407 to centralize this litigation in the Western District of Pennsylvania or, alternatively, the Northern District of California. Plaintiffs in all four actions listed on Schedule A oppose centralization and, alternatively, suggest selection of a Northern District of California transferee district.

After considering the argument of counsel,1 we find that centralization of these actions in the Western District of Pennsylvania will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation. The actions involve common factual issues concerning All-Clad’s multi-ply stainless-steel cookware (pots, pans, skillets, etc.) that was marketed as dishwasher safe but allegedly degrade after dishwasher use, creating sharp edges as a result of the aluminum layers deteriorating and exposing sharp…