Multidistrict Litigation Orders

Rule 13 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration is effective in all cases filed on or after September 1, 2003. Composed of five Judges, the Multidistrict Litigation Panel (MDL Panel) is the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation designated pursuant to section 74.161 of the Texas Government Code, including any temporary members designated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas in his or her discretion when regular members are unable to sit for any reason. The Clerk of the Supreme Court of Texas serves as the Multidistrict Litigation Panel Clerk.

Available MDL by Year Case Filed: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | Return to MDL Home

General Filing Requirements

An original and one copy is required for filings with the Multidistrict Litigation Panel. Filings must be accompanied by the appropriate filing fee. A motion for transfer, response, reply, or other document addressed to the MDL Clerk and MDL Panel must conform to the requirements of Rule 9.4 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. There are specific requirements for binding in Rule 9.4 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. Documents must be bound so that they will lie flat when open. You may not use any kind of plastic cover. In addition, covers may not be black, dark blue or red. Rule 9.4 also includes specific requirements for form, printing, paper size and type, fonts, margins and contents.

Sending Documents to the MDL Panel Clerk

In addition to mailing an original and one copy of your filing to the MDL Panel Clerk, an electronic copy must also be emailed to the Clerk, Blake Hawthorne at blake.hawthorne@courts.state.tx.us and the Chief Deputy Clerk, Claudia Jenks at claudia.jenks@courts.state.tx.us.

Below are the addresses for mailing documents by overnight mail and by regular mail. The documents should be addressed to the Honorable Blake A. Hawthorne, Clerk, Multidistrict Litigation Panel.

The document will be file marked with the date we receive both the filing fee and hard copies in our office.

Sending Documents to the MDL Panel Members

All documents filed with the MDL Panel Clerk must also be mailed to each of the Panel Members listed below. It is your responsibility to mail the documents to the MDL Panel Members, the MDL Panel Clerk will not mail the documents to the panel members. DO NOT EMAIL THE DOCUMENTS TO THE MDL PANEL MEMBERS.

Multidistrict Litigation Filing Fees

Pursuant to Section 51.005(c), Government Code and Rule 13.3(g), Rule of Judicial Administration, the Court adopted and approved and the Clerk shall collect the following reasonable filing fees. See Misc. Docket No. 03-9151. Fees may be paid in cash, by check or money order. Checks and money orders should be made payable to, "Clerk, Supreme Court of Texas". Credit cards are not accepted.

Notice to Trial Court

Pursuant to Rule 13.3(i), Rules of Judicial Administration, a party must file in the trial court that a motion for transfer has been filed. The MDL Panel Clerk must cause such notice to be filed when a request for transfer by a judge has been filed. See Example of Notice to Trial Court of MDL Filing [pdf].