The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) has chosen the Western District of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh as the location for the Philips CPAP machine multidistrict litigation (MDL). The panel ruled that the court was the proper location due to the fact that many of the allegedly defective machines were built in a factory outside the city and due to the convenience of the parties.
The MDL will be overseen by U.S. Judge Joy Flowers Conti. Ten initial cases from various locations were transferred to the MDL court with an additional 84 to follow, all of which alleging that certain Philips CPAP machines contained soundproofing foam that could degrade and cause health problems, including cancer.
