(b) TRANSFER OF RELATED CASES BEFORE TWO OR MORE JUDGES. If cases assigned to different judges are related because of either a common question of fact or any other prospective duplication in the prosecution or resolution of the cases, a party may move to transfer any related case to the judge assigned to the first-filed among the related cases. The moving party shall file a notice of filing the motion to transfer, including a copy of the motion to transfer, in each related case. The proposed transferor judge shall dispose of the motion to transfer but shall grant the motion only with the consent of the transferee judge. If the transferee judge determines that the same magistrate judge should preside in some or all respects in some or all of the related cases, the Clerk shall assign the magistrate judge assigned to the first-filed among the affected cases to preside in that respect in those cases.
(c) CONSOLIDATION OF RELATED CASES BEFORE ONE JUDGE. If cases assigned to a judge are related because of either a common question of law or fact or any other prospective duplication in the prosecution or resolution of the cases, a party may move to consolidate the cases for any or all purposes in accord with Rule 42. Fed.R.Civ.P., or Rule 13, Fed.R.Cr.P. The moving party shall file a notice of filing the motion to consolidate, including a copy of the motion to consolidate, in each related case. If the presiding judge determines that the same magistrate judge should preside in some or all respects in some or all of the consolidated cases, the Clerk shall assign the magistrate judge assigned to the first-filed among the affected cases to preside in that respect in those cases.
(d) All counsel of record in any case have a continuing duty promptly to inform the Court and counsel of the existence of any other case within the purview of this rule, as well as the existence of any similar or related case or proceeding pending before any other court or administrative agency. Counsel shall notify the Court by filing and serving a “Notice of Pendency of Related Actions” that identifies and describes any related case.
