Arch Electronics, Inc v. Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. et al, No. 5:2018cv01128 - Document 14 (N.D. Cal. 2018)

Court Description: ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS TO CONSOLIDATE; APPOINTING LEAD INTERIM COUNSEL. The Clerk shall administratively close this file. Signed by Judge Edward J. Davila on 4/27/2018. (ejdlc2S, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/27/2018) (Entered: 04/27/2018)

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1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 SAN JOSE DIVISION 7 8 DEPENDABLE COMPONENT SUPPLY CORP., et al., Plaintiffs, 9 v. 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 12 MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., et al., Case No. 5:18-cv-00198-EJD ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS TO CONSOLIDATE; APPOINTING LEAD INTERIM COUNSEL Re: Dkt. Nos. 18, 21, 55, 81, 82 Defendants. 13 14 And all related actions. 15 16 Plaintiffs in the above-captioned cases have sued Defendants for antitrust violations 17 relating to alleged price-fixing in the inductor market. Presently before the Court are two matters: 18 The first are several motions to consolidate the currently-related cases against Defendants. Dkt. 19 Nos. 18, 55, 82. The second are several motions to appoint various Plaintiffs’ counsel as lead or 20 co-lead interim class counsel. Dkt. Nos. 21, 55, 81. Based on the parties’ submissions and 21 counsel’s arguments at the April 26, 2018 hearing, the Court orders as set forth below. 22 23 I. MOTIONS TO CONSOLIDATE The district court may consolidate actions involving common questions of law and fact. 24 Fed. R. Civ. P. 42(a)(2). The court exercises “broad discretion to decide how cases on its docket 25 are to be tried so that the business of the court may be dispatched with expedition and economy 26 while providing justice to the parties.” Morin v. Turpin, 778 F. Supp. 711, 733 (S.D.N.Y. 1991) 27 28 Case No.: 5:18-cv-00198-EJD ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS TO CONSOLIDATE; APPOINTING LEAD INTERIM COUNSEL 1 1 (citing 6 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1471, at 359 (1971)). In 2 exercising this discretion, the court “weighs the saving of time and effort consolidation would 3 produce against any inconvenience, delay, or expense that it would cause.” Huene v. United 4 States, 743 F.2d 703, 704 (9th Cir. 1984). Consolidation may occur upon motion by a party or sua 5 sponte. In re Adams Apple, Inc., 829 F.2d 1484, 1487 (9th Cir. 1987). Upon review of the complaints in each of the actions presented here, the Court finds that 6 7 each case presents substantially similar factual and legal issues. The Plaintiffs in each action 8 allege that Defendants conspired to fix prices in the inductors market and that Plaintiffs suffered 9 injuries in their purchases from Defendants. The actions are in the same procedural stage as Defendants have not yet filed an answer or responsive motion. Moreover, since the claims for 11 United States District Court Northern District of California 10 each case arise from the same or similar set of circumstances, discovery issues relating to each 12 action will be parallel. In addition, there appears to be no basis to find that consolidation would 13 cause inconvenience, delay or expense, especially since the parties appear to agree with the 14 consolidation request. As such, the court finds consolidation appropriate. The motions to 15 consolidate will therefore be GRANTED. 16 17 II. APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM CLASS COUNSEL Plaintiffs Dependable Component Supply Corp. (“Dependable”), Powerweb Inc. and 18 Powerweb Energy Inc. (collectively, “Powerweb”), and Arch Electronics Inc. (“Arch”) move to 19 appoint their attorneys, Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP (“BFA”) and Hausfeld LLP (“Hausfeld”), as 20 co-lead interim class counsel. Dkt. No. 21. Plaintiff Cambridge Capital Corp. (“Cambridge 21 Capital”) moves to appoint its attorneys, Berman Tabacco (“BT”), as either sole lead counsel or 22 co-lead counsel with any other firm which the Court appoints as lead. Dkt. No. 55. Plaintiff Five 23 Rivers Electronics Innovations LLC (“Five Rivers”) moves to appoint its attorneys, Joseph Saveri 24 Law Firm, Inc. (“JSLF”), as sole lead counsel. Dkt. No. 81. Plaintiff Inductors, Inc. has filed a 25 “response” which states that it supports the appointment as JSLF as lead counsel or requests that, 26 if the Court prefers a co-lead structure, that the Court appoint its attorneys, Stueve Siegel Hanson 27 28 Case No.: 5:18-cv-00198-EJD ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS TO CONSOLIDATE; APPOINTING LEAD INTERIM COUNSEL 2 1 2 LLP (“SSH”), as co-lead counsel with JSLF. Dkt. No. 118. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(g)(3), the court “may designate interim 3 counsel to act on behalf of a putative class before determining whether to certify the action as a 4 class action.” “Instances in which interim class counsel is appointed are those in which 5 overlapping, duplicative, or competing class suits are pending before a court, so that appointment 6 of interim counsel is necessary to protect the interests of class members.” White v. TransUnion, 7 LLC, 239 F.R.D. 681, 683 (C.D. Cal. 2006) (citing Manual for Complex Litigation (Fourth) 8 § 21.11 (2004)). Although Rule 23(g)(3) does not provide a standard for appointment of interim 9 counsel, the court may consider the factors contained in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(g)(1). Under that section, the court considers: “(i) the work counsel has done in identifying or 11 United States District Court Northern District of California 10 investigating potential claims in the action; (ii) counsel’s experience in handling class actions, 12 other complex litigation, and the types of claims asserted in the action; (iii) counsel’s knowledge 13 of the applicable law; and (iv) the resources that counsel will commit to representing the class.” 14 Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 23(g)(1)(A). The court may also “consider any other matter pertinent to 15 counsel’s ability to fairly and adequately represent the interests of the class.” Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 16 23(g)(1)(B). 17 BFA and Hausfeld are experienced class action firms. See Declaration of Lesley Weaver 18 (“Weaver Decl.”), Dkt. No. 21-3, at ¶¶ 3-5, 10-13; Declaration of Michael Lehmann (“Lehmann 19 Decl.”), Dkt. No. 21-1, at ¶¶ 5-16. Collectively, they employ over 90 attorneys worldwide. See 20 Lehmann Decl. ¶ 18; Dkt. No. 73 at 6-7. Specific to this case, BFA and Hausfeld together have 21 consulted industry reports and engaged industry experts and an economist to investigate the 22 potential class action claims. Weaver Decl. ¶ 2; Lehman Decl. ¶¶ 3-4. They have also contacted 23 Defendants regarding service of process, production of documents, the status of any application 24 for leniency under the Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) corporate leniency program, and the 25 cooperation obligations under the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act 26 (“ACPERA”). Declaration of Matthew Weiler (“Weiler Decl.”), Dkt. No. 66-1, at ¶¶ 2-4. 27 28 Case No.: 5:18-cv-00198-EJD ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS TO CONSOLIDATE; APPOINTING LEAD INTERIM COUNSEL 3 BT is also an experienced class action firm. See Declaration of Todd Seaver (“Seaver 1 2 Decl.”), Dkt. No. 55-1, at ¶¶ 3-19. It employs 34 attorneys, spread across the east and west coast. 3 Id. ¶ 3. On this case, BT has consulted industry data and researched the inductors market to 4 investigate potential claims. Id. ¶¶ 2, 7. It also contacted Defendants regarding their ACPERA 5 obligations and translated their complaint into Japanese. Declaration of Todd Seaver in Support of 6 Reply (“Seaver Reply Decl.”), Dkt. No. 75-1, at ¶¶ 3-5. JLSF and SSH are also experienced class action firms. See Declaration of Joseph Saveri 7 8 (“Saveri Decl.”), Dkt. No. 81-1, at ¶¶ 14-21; Declaration of Jason Hartley (“Hartley Decl.”), Dkt. 9 No. 118-1, at ¶¶ 12-20. JLSF has a single office in San Francisco and employs over 10 attorneys. See Dkt. No. 81-3. SSH has offices in Kansas City and San Diego and employs 25 attorneys. 11 United States District Court Northern District of California 10 Hartley Decl. ¶ 15. On this case, JLSF has engaged expert economists and Japanese attorneys to 12 investigate potential claims, and has also reached out to Defendants regarding issues related to 13 service and ACPERA cooperation. Saveri Decl. ¶¶ 3-7. JLSF also boasts that its complaint 14 includes additional defendants and adds new, additional factual allegations. See Dkt. No. 54 at 5; 15 Dkt. No. 81 at 6-7. SSH has worked with JLSF in filing its own client’s complaint and has spent 16 time consulting an economist to investigate potential claims. Hartley Decl. ¶ 10. Upon careful consideration of the parties’ submissions and counsel’s arguments at the 17 18 April 26, 2018 hearing, the Court finds that the most appropriate choice here is to appoint BFA 19 and Hausfeld as co-lead counsel. While the Court commends all firms on their impressive 20 resumes and litigation experience, the efforts expended by BFA and Hausfeld to promptly identify 21 and investigate the claims, coupled with the extensive amount of resources which they have 22 available to expend on this case, renders them superior to represent the putative class. 23 Accordingly, the Court appoints BFA and Hausfeld as co-lead interim counsel. 24 III. ORDER 25 Based on the foregoing, the motions to consolidate (Dkt. Nos. 18, 55, 82) are GRANTED. 26 The motion to appoint BFA and Hausfeld as co-lead interim counsel (Dkt. No. 21) is GRANTED, 27 28 Case No.: 5:18-cv-00198-EJD ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS TO CONSOLIDATE; APPOINTING LEAD INTERIM COUNSEL 4 1 and the competing motions (Dkt. Nos. 55, 81) are DENIED. In light of the proposed Case 2 Management Order (Dkt. No. 18-6), the Court hereby ORDERS as follows: 3 Consolidation 4 (1) The Clerk of the Court shall consolidate case numbers 5:18-cv-00198-EJD, 5:18-cv- 5 00349-EJD, 5:18-cv-00511-EJD, 5:18-cv-00686-EJD, 5:18-cv-00851-EJD, 5:18-cv-01128-EJD, 6 and 5:18-cv-02175-EJD into one case such that the earliest-field action, 5:18-cv-00198-EJD, is the 7 lead case. 8 9 Once consolidated, the Clerk shall close 5:18-cv-00349-EJD, 5:18-cv-00511-EJD, 5:18-cv00686-EJD, 5:18-cv-00851-EJD, 5:18-cv-01128-EJD, and 5:18-cv-02175-EJD. (2) The terms of this Order (“CMO”) shall not have the effect of making any person, firm 11 United States District Court Northern District of California 10 or corporation a party to any action in which he, she, or it has not been named, served or added as 12 such, in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The terms of this CMO and the 13 consolidation ordered herein shall not constitute a waiver by any party of any claims in or defenses 14 under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or any other statute or common law to the Actions, or 15 any subsequently filed consolidated or related action. 16 Master Docket and Master File 17 (3) A Master Docket and Master File are hereby established for the Actions. The Master 18 File number shall be 18-cv-198. A Master Docket will be maintained for the Actions with all 19 entries to be docketed under the Master File number. If a document pertains to only one or some 20 of the consolidated cases, it will be docketed on the Master Docket with the notation in the docket 21 text as to the case numbers to which it pertains. 22 (4) Separate docket numbers shall be terminated in accordance with the regular procedures 23 of the Clerk of this Court, and any pending schedules, deadlines, or dates in the 5:18-cv-00349- 24 EJD, 5:18-cv-00511-EJD, 5:18-cv-00686-EJD, 5:18-cv-00851-EJD, 5:18-cv-01128-EJD, and 25 5:18-cv-02175-EJD cases shall be vacated. 26 27 28 (5) An original of this CMO shall be filed by the Clerk in the Master File and in the files Case No.: 5:18-cv-00198-EJD ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS TO CONSOLIDATE; APPOINTING LEAD INTERIM COUNSEL 5 1 for each of the Actions captioned above, and in the file of every action subsequently consolidated 2 herewith. 3 Caption of Cases 4 5 6 (6) Every pleading filed in the Actions shall hereafter bear the following caption: “In re Inductors Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 18-cv-198-EJD.” (7) All papers previously filed and served to date in the Actions are deemed part of the 7 record in 18-cv-198-EJD. 8 Filing and Docketing 9 (8) When a paper is filed and the caption shows that it is to be applicable to any of the Actions, such paper shall be filed in the Master File (18-cv-198-EJD) and the Clerk shall note such 11 United States District Court Northern District of California 10 filing in the Master Docket. Such papers need not be filed, and docket entries need not be made, 12 in any other case file. 13 (9) When a paper is filed and the caption shows that it is to be applicable to fewer than all 14 of the Actions, such paper shall be filed in the Master File. In other words, it is not necessary to 15 file the paper in any action other than the Master File. 16 Admission of Attorneys and Appearances 17 (10) Each attorney who has already made an appearance or been admitted pro hac vice in 18 any of the Actions shall be deemed admitted in In re Inductors Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 18- 19 cv-198-EJD 20 (11) Counsel who have not yet entered an appearance shall file a Notice of Appearance in 21 In re Inductors Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 18-cv-198-EJD. 22 Application of This Order to Subsequently Filed or Transferred Cases 23 (12) Counsel in the above-captioned Actions shall call to the attention of the Court the 24 filing or transfer of any related action arising out of similar facts and circumstances as are alleged 25 in the Actions and that therefore might properly be consolidated or coordinated with the Actions. 26 (13) Counsel in the Actions shall promptly mail a copy of this Order to counsel for 27 28 Case No.: 5:18-cv-00198-EJD ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS TO CONSOLIDATE; APPOINTING LEAD INTERIM COUNSEL 6 1 plaintiff(s) in each such subsequently filed or transferred related action and to counsel for 2 Defendants in each such action not already a party to the Actions. Promptly thereafter, upon notice 3 to counsel for the parties in each such action, counsel for Plaintiffs in the Actions and counsel for 4 Defendants shall submit to the Court a proposed order consolidating any such action. Any party 5 objecting to the application of this CMO to such a subsequently filed or transferred action, or 6 objecting to consolidation with the Actions, shall file a motion seeking relief from this CMO 7 within ten (10) days after the date upon which such a copy of this CMO is mailed by counsel in 8 the Actions to counsel for such party. 9 Filing and Service of Documents 10 (14) This case is assigned to the Electronic Case Filing (ECF) System. The parties are United States District Court Northern District of California 11 referred to the Court’s electronic filing requirements and procedures 12 (http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/cm-ecf). 13 (15) Papers that are filed through the Court’s ECF system are deemed served on all parties. 14 Plaintiffs shall effect service of papers on Defendants by e-filing the papers in accordance with all 15 applicable rules or, if e-filing is unavailable or inapplicable, by serving a copy of the same on 16 Defendants’ counsel by electronic mail in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 17 Defendants shall effect service of papers on Plaintiffs by e-filing the papers in accordance with all 18 applicable rules or, if e-filing is unavailable or inapplicable, by serving a copy of the same on 19 Interim Class Counsel by electronic mail in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 20 All other service of papers (including service of process for initiating documents) shall be 21 governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, unless otherwise agreed by the parties. 22 Preservation of Evidence 23 (16) All named parties and counsel are reminded of their duty to preserve evidence that 24 may be relevant to this action, including electronically stored information. Until the parties reach 25 an agreement on a preservation plan for all cases or the Court orders otherwise, each party shall 26 take reasonable steps to preserve all evidence that may be relevant to this litigation. Counsel, as 27 28 Case No.: 5:18-cv-00198-EJD ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS TO CONSOLIDATE; APPOINTING LEAD INTERIM COUNSEL 7 1 officers of the court, are obligated to exercise all reasonable efforts to identify and notify parties 2 and non-parties, including employees of foreign corporate or institutional parties, of their 3 preservation obligations. 4 Appointment of Interim Lead Class Counsel 5 (17) The Court appoints BFA and Hausfeld as Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel for the 6 putative class. 7 Consolidated Complaint 8 9 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 12 13 (18) On or before May 24, 2018, Plaintiffs in In re Inductors Antitrust Litigation shall file a Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint. Initial Case Management Conference (19) The Court CONTINUES the initial case management conference to June 21, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. The parties shall file a joint case management statement no later than June 11, 2018. (20) The other deadlines in the Court’s order at Dkt. No. 117 are RESET as follows: 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Event Last day to meet and confer re: initial disclosures, early settlement, ADR process selection, and discovery plan Last day to file ADR Certification and either file Stipulation to ADR Process or Notice of Need for ADR Phone Conference Last day to file Rule 26(f) Report, complete initial disclosures or state objection in Rule 26(f) Report and file Case Management Statement per Standing Order re Contents of Joint Case Management Statement Deadline May 31, 2018 May 31, 2018 June 11, 2018 21 22 23 24 25 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: April 27, 2018 ______________________________________ EDWARD J. DAVILA United States District Judge 26 27 28 Case No.: 5:18-cv-00198-EJD ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS TO CONSOLIDATE; APPOINTING LEAD INTERIM COUNSEL 8

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