AND REPLY MEMORANDA; ASSIGNMENT
(a) Transfer of Cases. Whenever two or more cases are pending before
different Judges and any party believes that such cases arise from substantially the same
transaction or event; involve substantially the same parties; or, for any other reason
would entail substantial duplication of labor if heard by different Judges, any party may
file a motion to transfer the case or cases involved to a single Judge.
(b) Filing of a Motion to Transfer. A motion to transfer must identify all the
cases that are the subject of the motion by case name and case number. The movant must
file the motion in a case in which the movant is a party. If the movant is a party in more
than one of the affected cases, the movant must file the motion in the case with the lowest
case number in which the movant is a party. The Clerk's Office will electronically file the
motion in each of the other affected cases identified in the motion. The motion will be
heard and decided, after consulting with the Judges assigned to the other affected cases,
in the case with the lowest case number.
(c) Responsive and Reply Memoranda. Any party in any case that is the
subject of a motion to transfer may file a responsive memorandum, and the movant may
file a reply memorandum. Any responsive or reply memorandum must identify all the
cases affected by the underlying motion. The filer must file the responsive or reply
memorandum in a case in which the filer is a party. The Clerk's Office will electronically
file the responsive or reply memorandum in each affected case identified in the
memorandum.
(d) Assignment. If a motion to transfer is granted, the following factors may
be considered in determining the Judge to whom the case or cases will be assigned: (1)
whether substantive matters have been considered in a case; (2) which Judge has the most
familiarity with the issues involved in the cases; (3) whether a case is reasonably viewed
as the lead or principal case; or (4) any other factor serving the interest of judicial
economy.
