MDL Number 20-md-2936
Presiding Judge
Case Summary
The cases in this MDL involve putative class action allegations regarding the manufacture, labeling, marketing, and performance of 303 tractor hydraulic fluid (THF) products manufactured by Smitty’s Supply Inc. and/or CAM2 International, L.L.C. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants (1) deceptively marketed the products as meeting John Deere 303 specifications that allegedly became obsolete in the 1970s when an essential ingredient – sperm whale oil – was banned from use; (2) misrepresented the products’ anti-wear and protective benefits; and (3) used inferior ingredients such as used oils and diluted additives that caused damage to Plaintiffs’ equipment. The class representatives, on behalf of a nationwide putative class and putative subclasses from 41 states, bring causes of action against Smitty’s, CAM2, and a number of retailers, including Atwood Distributing, LP, Tractor Supply Company, Rural King, and Orscheln Farm and Home, LLC. Defendants summarily deny Plaintiffs’ allegations, including denying that Plaintiffs have suffered any damage due to any act, omission, or conduct on the part of any Defendant.
▶ Hearings
- Initial Scheduling Conference held on June 18, 2020
- Preliminary Approval Hearing for Proposed Retailer Class Action Settlement held on June 24, 2021
- Final Approval Hearing for Proposed Retailer Class Action Settlement held on January 6, 2022
- Class Certification Scheduling Order (Doc. #590)
- This Order details the class certification deadlines and hearing date. The class certification hearing will be held in November 2023 in Courtroom 7B, United States Courthouse, Kansas City, Missouri.
▶ Important Hearing Date
- Final Fairness Hearing 3/26/25 at 10:00 am
▶ Juror Questionnaire
▶ Settlement Website
▶ Practice and Procedure Orders
- Initial Order (Doc. #5)
- This order sets the ground rules for lawyers filing documents with the Court.
- Protective Order (Doc. #35)
- This order establishes guidelines to protect any personal or sensitive information disclosed during discovery.
- ESI Protocol Order (Doc. #38)
- This order established guidelines for producing electronically stored information.
- Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel Quarterly Billing and Extension Report Order (Doc. #69)
- This order directs Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel to file quarterly time and expense reports for the Court’s review.
▶ Orders
- Order for Appointment of Plaintiffs’ Leadership Structure (Doc. #27)
- This order appoints certain lawyers to act in a leadership role.
- Order Modifying Appointment of Leadership Structure (Doc. #191)
- This order appoints the Chairs of the Client Communication Committee and the Settlement Committee.
- Consolidated Amended Complaint Order (Doc. #46)
- This order allows all plaintiffs to file one consolidated complaint against all defendants and allowed any other plaintiffs to directly join the Multidistrict Litigation.
- Retailer Settlement Approval Order (Doc. #335)
- This order approves a class action settlement between Plaintiffs and Retailer Defendants.
- List of the approved opt-outs from the retailer class settlement
- Order on Smitty’s and CAM2’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amended Consolidated Complaint (Doc. #451)
- This Order granted in part and denied in part Smitty’s and CAM2’s Motion to Dismiss.
- Order on Individual Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amended Consolidated Complaint (Doc. #452)
- This Order granted Individual Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss.
- Insurance Action Summary Judgment Order (Doc. #170)
- This order rules on the Insurance Action’s parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment, granting in part and denying in part both motions.
- Settlement Administration Order (Doc. #753)
- This order approves distributions of settlement funds from the Retailer Defendants to Plaintiffs.
- Suggestion of Remand of Insurance Action (Doc. #183)
- This Order suggests that the JPML remand the Insurance Action to the Eastern District of Louisiana.
- Class Certification Scheduling Order (Doc. #793)
- This Order details the class certification deadlines. The class certification hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
- Order on Defendant CAM2’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #985)
- Order granting Defendant CAM2’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to Certain Claims
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and CAM2’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #991)
- Order granting Defendants Smitty’s and CAM2’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to Time-Barred Claims in Eight Selected States
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #996)
- Order granting in part and denying in part Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Claims of Plaintiff Tim Sullivan.
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #998)
- Order granting in part and denying in part Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Claims of Plaintiff Dale Wendt.
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #1004)
- Order granting in part and denying in part Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Claims of Plaintiff Joe Jackson.
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #1006)
- Order granting in part and denying in part Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Claims of Plaintiff Mark Hazeltine.
- Order on Defendant Smitty’s Partial Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #1008)
- Order granting in part and denying in part Defendant Smitty’s Partial Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Claims of Plaintiffs Arno Graves, Ronald Nash, and George Bollin.
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #1010)
- Order denying Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Claims of Plaintiff Jack Kimmich.
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #1011)
- Order granting in part and denying in part Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Partial Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Claims of Plaintiff Terry Zones.
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #1014)
- Order denying Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Claims of Plaintiff Alan Hargraves.
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary (Doc. #1068)
- Order granting in part and denying in part Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Claims of Plaintiffs Ross Watermann and Watermann Land & Cattle, LLC.
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #1075)
- Order denying Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Claims of Plaintiffs Jeffrey Harrison and J&C Housing Construction, LLC.
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment and Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion to Exclude the Opinions of Plaintiffs’ Expert Dr. Werner J.A. Dahm (Doc. #1076)
- Order granting in part and denying in part Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to the Claims of Plaintiff Adam Sevy and denying Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion to Exclude the Opinions of Plaintiffs’ Expert Dr. Werner J.A. Dahm.
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Doc. #1096)
- Order denying Defendants Smitty’s and Cam2’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on the Claims of Plaintiff Arno Graves.
- Order on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Class Certification Respecting the Eight Focus States (Doc. #1130)
- Order granting in part and denying in part Plaintiffs’ Motion for Class Certification Respecting the Eight Focus States.
- Order on Defendants Smitty’s and CAM2’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #1154)
- Order denying Defendants Smitty’s and CAM2’s Motion for Summary Judgment as to Time-Barred Claims in Eleven States.
- Preliminary Approval Order
- Final Judgment and Order of Dismissal
▶ Transfer Orders
- JPML Transfer Order #1
- This order from the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation created the Multidistrict Litigation.
- JPML Transfer Order #2
- This order consolidated more related cases with this Multidistrict Litigation.
- JPML Transfer Order – Insurance Coverage Disputes
- This order consolidated the insurance coverage disputes with this Multidistrict Litigation.
- Remand Order
- This JPML remands the Insurance Action to the Eastern District of Louisiana.
▶ Bellwether Trial
▶ Complaints
▶ Contact Information
Plaintiffs' Counsel |
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| Thomas V Bender HORN AYLWARD & BANDY, LLC 2600 Grand Boulevard, Ste 1100 Kansas City, MO 64108 Phone: 816-421-0700 Fax: 816-421-0899 tbender@hab-law.com -Lead Counsel |
Dirk Hubbard HORN AYLWARD & BANDY, LLC 2600 Grand Boulevard, Ste. 1100 Kansas City, MO 64108 Phone: (816) 421-0700 Fax: (816) 421-0899 dhubbard@hab-law.com - Liaison Counsel, Co-Lead Counsel, Discovery Committee, Research and Briefing Committee, Experts Committee, Settlement Committee |
| Bryan T. White WHITE, GRAHAM, BUCKLEY, & CARR, L.L.C 19049 East Valley View Parkway Independence, Missouri 64055 Phone: (816) 373-9080 Fax: (816) 373-9319 bwhite@wagblaw.com - Co-Lead Counsel, Discovery Committee, Research and Briefing Committee, Experts Committee, Settlement Committee |
Clayton Jones CLAYTON JONES, ATTORNEY AT LAW P.O. Box 257 405 W. 58 Hwy. Raymore, MO 64083 Office: (816) 318-4266 Fax: (816) 318-4267 clayton@claytonjoneslaw.com - Co-Lead Counsel, Discovery Committee, Research and Briefing Committee, Experts Committee, Settlement Committee |
| Zachary T. Anderson BOLEN ROBINSON & ELLIS, LLP 202 S. Franklin St., 2nd Floor Decatur, IL 62523 Phone: 217-429-4296 Fax: 217-329-0034 zanderson@brelaw.com - Executive Committee |
Tricia Campbell LANGDON & EMISON 911 Main St., P.O. Box 220 Lexington, MO 64067 Phone: (660) 259-6175 Fax: (660) 259-4571 tricia@lelaw.com - Executive Committee, Settlement Committee |
| Mark P. Bryant BRYANT LAW CENTER, P.S.C. P.O. Box 1876 Paducah, KY 42002-1876 Phone: (270) 442-1422 Fax: (270) 443-8788 Mark.bryant@bryantpsc.com - Executive Committee |
Athena Dickson SIRO SMITH DICKSON LAW FIRM 1621 Baltimore Ave. Kansas City, MO 64108 Phone: (816) 471-4881 Fax: (816) 471-4883 adickson@sirosmithdickson.com - Executive Committee, Experts Committee, Client Communication Committee |
| John G. Emerson EMERSON FIRM, PLLC 2500 Wilcrest Drive, Suite 300 Houston, TX 77042 T: (800) 551-8649 F: (501) 286-4659 E: jemerson@emersonfirm.com - Executive Committee |
Stephen R. Basser BARRACK, RODOS & BACINE One America Plaza 600 West Broadway, Suite 900 San Diego, CA 92101 Telephone: (619) 230-0800 Facsimile: (619) 230-1874 sbasser@barrack.com - Discovery Committee, Research and Briefing Committee |
| Christopher D. Jennings JOHNSON FIRM 610 President Clinton Avenue, Suite 300 Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 T: (501) 372-1300 F: (888) 505-0909 chris@yourattorney.com - Discovery Committee, Research and Briefing Committee |
Travis A. Griffith GRIFFITH LAW CENTER, PLLC One Bridge Place 10 Hale Street, Suite 203 Charleston, WV 25301 T: (304) 345-8999 F: (304) 345-7638 travis@protectingwv.com - Discovery Committee |
| Paul D. Lundberg LUNDBERG LAW FIRM, P.L.C. 600 Fourth St., Suite 906 Sioux City, Iowa 51101 Tel: 712-234-3030 paul@lundberglawfirm.com - Experts Committee |
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Defendants' Counsel |
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| LEAD DEFENSE COUNSEL Nikki Eckland Cannezzaro Franke, Schultz & Mullen - KCMO 8900 Ward Parkway Kansas City, MO 64114 T: (816) 421-7100 F: (816) 421-7915 Email: ncannezzaro@fsmlawfirm.com - Represents Smitty’s Supply, Inc.; CAM2 International LLC; Tractor Supply Company, Orscheln Farm & Home LLC; Rural King Administration, Inc.; Rural King Distribution & Management, Inc.; and Rural King Holding Co. |
Chris Hohn Sharon Rosenberg Jeffrey Masson Joseph Kellmeyer Thompson Coburn LLP One U.S. Bank Plaza, Suite 2700 St. Louis, MO 63101 (314) 552-6000 chohn@thompsoncoburn.com srosenberg@thompsoncoburn.com jmasson@thompsoncoburn.com jkellmeyer@thompsoncoburn.com - Represent Smitty’s Supply, Inc. and CAM2 International LLC |
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| Stephen G. Strauss Robert J Hoffman Tim Hasken Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, LLP - StL 211 North Broadway Suite 3600 St. Louis, MO 63102-2750 T: 314-259-2444 F: 314-552-8444 sgstrauss@bryancave.com rjhoffman@bclplaw.com tim.hasken@bryancave.com - Represent CAM2 International LLC; Smitty’s Supply, Inc. |
David Robert Sherman James McClendon Williams Matthew Arthur Sherman Patrick R Follette Chehardy, Sherman, Williams, Murray, Recile, Stakelum & Hayes, LLC One Galleria Blvd. Suite 1100 Metairie, LA 70001 T: (504) 833-5600 drs@chehardy.com james@thetrialteam.com mas@chehardy.com prf@chehardy.com - Represent CAM2 International LLC; Smitty’s Supply, Inc.; |
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| Harry Joseph Philips, Jr. Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips LLP 450 Laurel Street, 8th Floor (70801) P. O. Box 2471 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2471 T: (225) 387-3221 F: (225) 346-8049 skip.philips@taylorporter.com - Represents CAM2 International LLC; Smitty’s Supply, Inc.; |
John J. Gates Molly Beecher Westering Gates Westering, LLC 701 E. 63rd St. Suite 350 Kansas City, MO 64110 T: 816-448-8530 F: 816-448-8529 john@gateswestering.com molly@gateswestering.com - Represent CAM2 International LLC; Smitty’s Supply, Inc. |
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| John C Gray Heidman Law Firm LLP 1128 Historic 4th Street PO Box 3086 Sioux City, IA 51102 T: 712 255 8838 john.gray@heidmanlaw.com - Represents CAM2 International LLC; Smitty’s Supply, Inc.; Tractor Supply Company |
Keith Douglas Chidlaw Schuering Zimmerman Scully & Doyle, LLP 400 University Avenue Sacramento, CA 95825-6502 T: 916-567-0400 F: 916-568-0400 Email: kdc@szs.com - Represents CAM2 International LLC; Smitty’s Supply, Inc.; Tractor Supply Company |
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| Mark Steven Breeding Munson, Rowlett, Moore & Boone, P.A. Regions Center, Suite 1900 400 West Capitol Avenue Little Rock, AR 72201 T: 501-374-6535 F: 501-374-5906 Email: mark.breeding@mrmblaw.com - Represents CAM2 International LLC; Smitty’s Supply, Inc.; Tractor Supply Company |
Jessica L. Klander Bassford Remele 100 South 5th Street Suite 1500 Minneapolis, MN 55402 T: 612-376-1660 F: 612-746-1260 Email: jklander@bassford.com - Represents Smitty’s Supply, Inc.; CAM2 International LLC; and Tractor Supply Company |
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| Justin Edward Vandenbout Chamberlain Hrdlicka et al 1200 Smith St 14th Floor Houston, TX 77002 T: 713-658-1818 Email: justin.vandenbout@chamberlainlaw.com - Represents Smitty’s Supply, Inc.; CAM2 International LLC; and Tractor Supply Company |
Ryan T. Polczynski Whitlow, Roberts, Houston & Straub, PLLC 300 Broadway Street P.O. Box 995 Paducah, KY 42002-0995 T: 270-443-4516 F: 270-442-1712 Email: rpolczynski@whitlow-law.com - Represents Smitty’s Supply, Inc.; CAM2 International LLC; Tractor Supply Company and Rural King |
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| Matthew R Pickelman Quilling Selander Cummiskey & Lownds 2001 Bryan Street Suite 1800 Dallas, TX 75201 T: 214-880-1884 F: 214-871-2111 - Represents Tractor Supply Company |
Joseph R. Swift Baker, Sterchi, Cowden & Rice, LLC - StL 100 N. Broadway 21st Floor St. Louis, MO 63102 T: 314-421-0640 F: 314-581-7556 Email: jswift@bscr-law.com - Represents Atwood Distributing, LP |
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INSURER-PLAINTIFF NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY'S COUNSEL |
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| James K. Borcia Tressler LLP 233 S. Wacker Drive Chicago, Ste 61st Floor Chicago, IL 60606 T: 312-627-4104 F: 312-627-1717 Email: jborcia@tresslerllp.com |
Jay Russell Sever Phelps Dunbar, LLP (New Orleans) Canal Place 365 Canal St. Suite 2000 New Orleans, LA 70130-6534 T: (504) 566-1311 Email: jay.sever@phelps.com |
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