In Re Hurricane Rita Evacuation Bus Fire

ON REVIEW BY THE MULTIDIS-TRICT LITIGATION PANEL

Before us is a motion to appoint a pretrial judge for six lawsuits, pending in two counties, which arise from one common incident. For the reasons stated below, we grant the motion without an oral hearing. See rule 13.3(k). A pretrial judge has been appointed by separate order.

On September 22, 2005, as Hurricane Rita approached the southeast Texas gulf coast, defendant Brighton Gardens evacuated some of the residents from its assisted living and health care facility in Houston, placing them on a bus that had been chartered through defendant…