A panel of federal judges has ordered many of the lawsuitsagainst Target for itslate 2013 card data breach to be consolidated and moved toMinnesota, the judicial district in which the nationwide retaileris headquartered.

“All parties agree that centralization is warranted, butdisagree about the most appropriate transferee district,” the U.S.Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation said in the ruling itmade last week.

“On the basis of the papers filed and hearing sessionheld, we find that these actions involve common questions of fact,and that centralization in the District of Minnesota will serve theconvenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just andefficient conduct of this litigation,” the panel wrote.

Centralizing them, the judges said, “[Will] eliminateduplicative discovery; prevent inconsistent pretrial rulings,including with respect to class certification; and conserve theresources of the parties, their counsel, and the judiciary.”

Currently, at least six credit unions and 10 banks have filed suit against thenationwide retailer in an attempt to recover some of what theyspent because of the security failure that has been blamed for atleast $200 million in financial institution costs and losses.