IN RE: Drilling Platform Blowout and Fire in the Gulf of Mexico on March 24, 1980

Case MDL No. 489 Document 2 Filed 05/19/15 Page 1 of 3
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LAR 24 1397 InDOCKET NO. 489 Np om, ' ET
PATRICIA 0 3 !BEFORE THE JUDICIAL PANEL ON MULTIDISTRICT LITIGRTION | Mio hai:
IN RE DRILLING PLATFORM BLOWOUT AND FIRE IN THE GULF OF
MEXICO ON MARCH 24, 1980
TRANSFER ORDER* EEE
This litigation consists of thirteen actions pending ce
in two districts: ten actions in the Eastern District of [E
Louisiana and three actions in the Southern District of )
Texas. Presently before the Panel is a motion, pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. §1407, to transfer the Texas actions to the
Eastern District of Louisiana for coordinated or consolidated
pretrial proceedings with the actions pending there.
On the basis of the papers filed and the hearing held, Co Lr
the Panel finds that these actions involve common questions
of fact and that centralization of these actions under Section :
1407 in the Southern District of Texas will best serve the :
convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the :
just and efficient conduct of the litigation. Common factual
guestions arise concerning the cause or causes of a drilling : }
platform blowout and the liability, if any, of the various o i
defendants. Centralization under Section 1407 is therefore Pl
necessary in order to prevent duplication of discovery, b
avoid inconsistent pretrial rulings, and conserve the resources
of the parties, their counsel, and the judiciary. :
Although we are of the view that either the Eastern so
District of Louisiana or the Southern District of Texas
could be described as an appropriate transferee forum for i :
this litigation, we conclude that the Southern District
of Texas is preferable. The disaster occurred off the coast SSE ERIS
of Texas; the injured received emergency medical treatment | } : :
in Galveston, Texas; and three of the major corporate defendants
are Texas corporations. Thus, many of the relevant documents
and witnesses are likely to be found in or near the Southern
District of Texas.
* Judge Caffrey recused himself and took no part in the
decision of this matter. In addition, Judges Roy W. Harper
and Sam C. Pointer, Jr. took no part in the decision of
this matter. )

Case MDL No. 489 Document2 Filed 05/19/15 Page	2 of 3
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IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§1407, the actions listed on the attached Schedule A and
pending in the Eastern District of Louisiana be, and the
same hereby are, transferred to the Southern District of
Texas and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the
Honorable Hugh Gibson for coordinated or consolidated pretrial
proceedings with the actions pending in that district and
listed on Schedule A.
FOR THE PANEL:
Cle. (1),Charles	R. Weiner
Acting Chairman

. Case MDL No. 489 Document2 Filed 05/19/15 Page	3 of 3	Schedule A
' MDL-489 -- In re prilling Platform Blowout and Fire in the
® Gulf of Mexico on March 24, 1980
southern District of Texas
ponald Stelly v. Pennzoil Louisiana & Texas Offshore
Inc., et al., C.A. No. G-80-95
stanley W. Riley V. Dresser Industries Inc., et al.,C.A. No. G-81-110
John Elmdahl v. Dresser Industries, Inc., et al.,
C.A. No. G-81-203
Eastern District of Louisiana
Tony M. Craft v. Pennzoil Co., et al.,C.A. No. 80-2096-Sec.L
pora Forbes, etc. V. Pool Offshore CO., et al.,
C.A. No. 80-2150-Sec.L
John Mack Lambert v. Pennzoil Co., et al.,
C.A. No. 80-2474-Sec.L
Julia Mae Tagert Vv. Pennzoil Co.,
C.A. No. 80-3382-Sec.L
June Chachere Sparks, etc. v. Pool offshore Co., et al.,C.A. No. 80-3633-Sec.L
~ Gladys Ann McDonald v. Pool Offshore Co., et al.,C.A. No. 80-4832-Sec.L
Mason Thomas V. Pennzoil Co.,
® C.A. No. 81-541-Sec.L	- Ted L. Piner Vv. Pennzoil 0il & Gas Co., Inc., et al.,C.A. No. 81-1141-Sec.L
Pool Offshore Co., etc., et al. Vv. 0il Field of Texas,
Inc., et al., C.A. No. 81-1136-Sec.D
Anthony J. Deneana V. Pennzoil Producing Co. and/orPennzoil Co., et al., C.A. No. 81-334-Sec.L