In re PowerSchool Holdings, Inc. and PowerSchool Group, LLC Customer Data Security Breach Litigation

Summary

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation orders the centralization of 32 actions involving the PowerSchool customer data security breach, along with related actions, in the Southern District of California. The Panel finds common factual questions concerning the breach, PowerSchool’s data-security practices, and notice to affected individuals, and assigns the coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings to Judge Roger T. Benitez. The transfer order is designated MDL No. 3149.

Holdings

1. The actions listed on Schedule A involve common questions of fact, and centralization will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation.
2. The Southern District of California is an appropriate transferee district for the litigation.
3. Informal coordination was not the most efficient method of resolving the litigation because the parties had not established that potential § 1404 transfers would be uncontested or otherwise provide an adequate alternative to § 1407 centralization.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the actions involved common questions of fact warranting centralization under 28 U.S.C. § 1407.
2. Whether centralization would serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation.
3. Which federal district should serve as the transferee district.

Disposition

other