Giuliano v. MB Solutions Second Acquisition Corp.

TRANSFER ORDER

Before the entire Panel: Alfred T. Giuliano, the Chapter 7 trustee for the estate of Axiant, LLC (Axiant), moves the Panel to vacate our order conditionally transferring this District of Delaware bankruptcy adversary action (Giuliano)1 to the District of Minnesota for inclusion in MDL No. 2122. All defendants2 in Giuliano oppose the trustee’s motion to vacate.

*1354After considering all argument, we find that this action involves common questions of fact with actions in this litigation previously transferred to the District of Minnesota, and that transfer of the action to that district for inclusion in MDL No. 2122 will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of this litigation. We further find that transfer of this action is appropriate for the reasons that we set out in our original order directing centralization in this docket. In that order, we held that the District of Minnesota was a proper Section 1407 forum for actions involving allegations that the Forum, a large consumer debt arbitration company, operated a biased arbitration process and concealed from the public its ties to the collection industry. See In re: National Arbitration Forum Antitrust Litigation, 682 F.Supp.2d 1343, 1345-46 (U.S.Jud.Pan.Mult.Lit. 2010).

In his motion to vacate, the trustee argues, inter alia, that Giuliano also involves numerous unique bankruptcy claims. Transfer under Section 1407, however, is “not dependent upon a total identity of parties and issues but rather on the existence of common questions of fact.” In re Haven Industries, Inc. Securities Litigation, 415 F.Supp. 396, 398 (Jud.Pan.Mult.Lit. 1976). A review of the amended complaint in Giuliano leaves no doubt whatever that the action and the actions already in MDL No. 2122 share multiple factual issues.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, this action is transferred to the District of Minnesota and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the Honorable Paul A. Magnuson for inclusion in the coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings occurring there in this docket.