Calif. Federal Judge Stays NuvaRing Case Pending Possible Transfer to MDL

SAN FRANCISCO — A California federal judge has stayed a NuvaRing case pending a possible transfer to the multidistrict litigation, noting that the fraudulent joinder issue has been raised in various similar NuvaRing cases and therefore should be resolved by the MDL court.

On Jan. 13, Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California denied plaintiffs’ motion to remand the action to state court, explaining that “a stay would serve judicial economy and guard against judicial inconsistency.”

Tammy Stevens sued Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Organon International Inc., Organon Biosciences NV, Akzo Nobel NV, Schering …