The Supreme Court of South Carolina

RE:  Opioid Litigation

ORDER

Pursuant to the provisions of S.C. Const., art. V, §4, I find that assigning a single circuit judge to dispose of all matters arising out of the opioid litigation currently pending and to be filed in the state court system will promote the effective and expeditious disposition of this litigation through uniform rulings and will conserve the resources of the parties, their counsel, and the judiciary.  Therefore,

IT IS ORDERED that the Honorable Perry H. Gravely be vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and dispose of all opioid litigation cases.  Judge Gravely shall decide all pretrial motions and other pretrial matters, including appropriate scheduling deadlines and admission of counsel pro hac vice pursuant to Rules 404 & 405, SCACR, arising out of the opioid cases filed in the state court system.  Judge Gravely shall have jurisdiction in all circuits in the state to dispose of all pretrial matters arising out of the opioid litigation and may schedule such hearings as may be necessary at any time without regard as to whether there is a term of court scheduled.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that for administrative purposes and convenience, copies of all pleadings and motions in all opioid litigation presently pending, or which may be filed in the future, shall be mailed by the clerk of court receiving the pleadings or motions to the Pickens County Clerk of Court.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Judge Gravely shall have jurisdiction to issue case management orders directing the consolidation of certain pretrial matters within the opioid litigation.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this is not a consolidation for trial purposes.  At the conclusion of all pretrial matters, any party may move to have trial ready cases transferred to the trial roster of the court of original jurisdiction or the court of appropriate venue for trial.  Judge Gravely shall preside over the trials of all opioid cases.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Columbia, South Carolina
August 9, 2018