A judge ruled Monday to consolidate the cases against University Hospitals in Ohio in the fertility clinic catastrophe that left 4,000 eggs and embryos destroyed.
The ruling stated the decision was made because the lawsuits all have common issues and the parties are essentially the same; all the actions involved have a common question of law or fact regarding the March 3 incident at the UH fertility clinic.
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Despite the consolidation, each case will maintain its "separate identity." While this decision was made as a matter of convenience, it "does not merge the suits into a single cause, or change the rights of the parties or make those who are parties in one suit parties in another."
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Any future cases filed in this incident will also be included in the consolidation.
UH sent Scripps station WEWS in Cleveland the following statement in response to the decision to consolidate the cases:
UH will continue to work with the Court and counsel for our patients in moving these cases towards resolution.
