S.C. Federal District Stays Deepwater Horizon Cases Pending MDL Decision

CHARLESTON, S.C. - A federal judge in South Carolina has granted defense motions to stay several cases arising from the Gulf oil spill, in each case citing judicial economy given the likelihood that a federal judicial panel will transfer all such cases to a single U.S. District Court judge.

Judge Patrick M. Duffy of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina also said in each order that the prejudice to plaintiffs caused by a stay is outweighed by the potential hardship to defendants.

Judge Duffy granted stays on July 14 in three cases, using nearly identical …