SARAH S. VANCE, Chair
Before the Panel: Common defendant First Databank, Inc., moves to centralize three actions in the Northern District of California. The actions are pending in the Northern District of California, the Northern District of Georgia, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as listed on the attached Schedule A. Plaintiffs in all three actions oppose centralization, as does plaintiff in the one tag-along.
On the basis of the papers filed and the hearing session held, we deny First Databanks motion. The three actions share factual issues concerning First Databanks decision to change its coding of prescription prenatal vitamins to Non-Rx or over-the-counter. Plaintiffs, which are manufacturers and distributors of these vitamins, allege that this new coding is false and deceptive, that it will lead to widespread denial of Medicaid and insurance coverage for prenatal vitamins, and that it will harm plaintiffs businesses. But these issues-in particular, the central issue of whether coding plaintiffs vitamins as lacking a federal legal prescription requirement is false or misleading-do not appear to be particularly complex or likely to require a substantial amount of discovery. In addition, there are only four actions, and motions to transfer (under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) or first-to-file grounds) are pending in the Georgia and Pennsylvania actions. Even if transfer is denied, the small number of actions indicates that alternatives to centralization are feasible. See In re: Eli Lilly & Co. (Cephalexin Monohydrate) Patent Litig. , 446 F.Supp. 242, 244 (J.P.M.L. 1978) (listing various methods for minimizing duplicative pretrial proceedings).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the motion for centralization of these actions is denied.
SCHEDULE A
MDL No. 2822 - IN RE: FIRST DATABANK PRESCRIPTION INFORMATION LITIGATION
Northern District of California
EXELTIS USA, INC. v. FIRST DATABANK, INC., C.A. No. 4:17-04810
Northern District of Georgia
ACELLA PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC v. FIRST DATABANK, INC., C.A. No. 1:17-05013
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
WOMENS CHOICE PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC v. FIRST DATABANK, INC., C.A. No. 2:17-03725
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan took no part in the decision of this matter.
The Panel has been informed of one additional federal action involving related issues, which is pending in the Western District of Texas.
Plaintiffs are Exeltis USA, Inc. (plaintiff in the California action), Acella Pharmaceuticals, LLC (Georgia action), Womens Choice Pharmaceuticals, LLC (Pennsylvania action), and Mission Pharmacal Company (Texas tag-along action).
At oral argument, First Databanks counsel stated that First Databank intends also to seek Section 1404 transfer of the Western District of Texas action.