In Re Ad Valorem

ON REVIEW BY THE MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION PANEL

Rule 13 authorizes this MDL panel to transfer "related" cases from different trial courts to a single pretrial judge if transfer will (1) serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and (2) promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation. See TEX. R. JUD. ADMIN . 13.3. Several companies in the Valero corporate family (Valero) have asked the panel to assign one judge to handle the pretrial phase of numerous ad valorem tax suits. Valero has challenged the valuation of its refineries, pipelines, terminals, and convenience stores by…