The Multi-District Litigation Statute Needs Rewriting

It's hard to believe that, with over half of all cases pending in the federal courts now docketed in multi-district litigations ("MDLs"), the statutory basis for all this litigation is but one section of the United States Code:

1. When civil actions involving one or more common questions of fact are pending in different districts, such actions may be transferred to any district for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings. Such transfers shall be made by the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation authorized by this section upon its determination that transfers for such proceedings will be for the convenience of parties and witnesses and will promote the just and efficient conduct of such actions. Each action so transferred shall be remanded by the panel at or before the conclusion of such pretrial proceedings to the district from which it was transferred unless it shall have been previously terminated: Provided, however, That the panel may separate any