JPML Centralizes Federal Nexium Cases in California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California all federal Nexium cases brought against AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: AZY) and assigned Judge Dale S. Fischer to oversee the pretrial proceedings.

“We conclude that the Central District of California is an appropriate transferee district for this litigation,” the Dec. 6 order says. “The eight actions pending in that district involve the vast majority of plaintiffs in this litigation — over a thousand plaintiffs. Further, 28 of the non-California actions were initially transferred from the Central District of California …