Proffitt v. New England Compounding Pharmacy Inc. et al, No. 7:2012cv00615 - Document 24 (W.D. Va. 2013)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge James C. Turk on 5/3/13. (med)

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rape : OFFI U.S. ST cout k CE DC . t AT ROANOiE, f VA FIED L MA 93 2 1 t 23 I TH E UN I N TED STA TES D I STR I C O U RT CT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF VI NI CT RGI A R O AN O K E D I ISIO N V JULA C. DLE CLERK I D M s.DP ( y E . ; M A R Y SH A R O N W A LK ER , Pl ntf , ai if Ci lA cton N os :7: :v-564; vi i . 127: cv12- 615 NEW EN G LA N D CO M PO U N DIN G PH A R M A CY I C.e aI, N t . M em orandum O pi on ni H on.Jam es C .Turk Seni U nied St es Di tri Judge or t at s ct Def endant s. BA SI E.PR O FFITT, L Pl ntif ai f , V. N EW EN G LA N D C O M PO U N DI G N PH A RM A CY INC .etal, . Def endant s. The e ne r y i ntc l s t ,1 con solda e f or l a gum e t a i t s M e or nd s a l de i a uis i t d or a r n nd n hi m a um O pi o a O r r a e pa toft na i nw i lt g ton s ni n nd de , r r he t o de ii a i unoundi t a l ge y c n i t d ng he le dl ont m na e se oi ma a t ed by Ne Enga Compoundi Pha m a y, l , d/ a Ne Engl tr ds nuf cur w lnd ng r c nc. b/ w and Compot ngCe e ($ mdi ntr $ NECC' . f et Cour aePli if'M otonst Re nd,ECFNos ' Beor he ) t r antfs i o ma . 8,5, Defnda I 2 e nt mageGui dPan Mana men ' (dGPM ' M otonst DimisfrFal et de i ge ts $ 1 ' i o s s o iur o ) St t a Cl m ,ECF N os 1 1 a I ae ai . 4, 0, nd GPM ' M otons t D im i s f La k of J i di ton.ECF S i o s s or c urs c i N os 1 1 The Co ' hea d co olda e or l a g en on Apr l 1 201 a t m a t r i . 6, 2. ul t r ns i t d a r um t i 8, 3 nd he t e s now r pe f di poston.For t r i or s ii he easons t f l ,t CourtSTA Y S t pr ent cas untl hat olow he he es es i 1The s ame lw tr r es nt t Pl ntfs. The Def nt a e i tca i e c a t s m e Er sr pr s nte ch a i m epr e s he ai if enda s r den i l n a h nd he a m e ee a Deenda i bot ca e A sdeaiedbel t pr dur posu e oft c esa eam os i ntc . f nt n h s s. tl ow, he oce al t r s he as r l t de ial 2Thr ghoutt M e or ou he m andum Opi on, t ECF N umbesi M s W ake ' c ea e lse frtand M r Pr t ' ni he r n . l rs as r itd ls . ofm s s ond. ec 1 . t J iilPa onM uli src Lii ton(IPM U' de i swhehe t ta frt s acins he udca nel tditit tgai L J ) cde t r o rnse he e to . The Cour f t STAYS t e caesuntlt j e t whi t J L ha ta fred t t urher hes s i he udg o ch he PM s rnser he ot r N Ecc -el t d ca e - l e Sayl of t D i ti of M as a hus t s he r ae s s udg or he s rct s c e t--cons de s t i r he Cha e l Tr t s M oton t Tr ns e t s a ot r c es pur ua t t 28 U . C . pt r 1 usee' i o a f r he e nd he as s n o S. jj15 b)5 a 1 7( () nd 334. 1 . FA C TU AL A N D PR O CED UR AL H I STO R Y A lm ie r ia i n oft f c sw ils tc f rpr s ntpur e .Bo h Pl i i f f l d s t i t d ec t to he a t l ufi e o e e pos s t a ntf s ie ui a ns N ECC a I gai t nd GPM i s a e c t Soo afe e h f l s t N EC C r m ove t c e t n t t our . n t r ac ied ui, e d he as s o t s Coul and tl d f r ba hi ' t i e o nknl cy s a t r t ti i t a om a i s a pr s on oft pt oon fe , hus rggerng he ut tc t y ovi i he ba u e codeast cli agans NECC.Se 11U. C.j Bot Pli if fld amoin nkr pty o ams i t e S. 362. h antfs ie to t rm a a I o e nd nd GPM f l ist o m otonst d s i si ea h c e. ied t w i o i m s n c as On J nua y 31 2013,t J L be n c nt a i i e i bl N Ec c- e a e a tons i t a r , he PM ga e r lz ng lgi e r lt d c i n he D it i t of M as a hus ts a a sgned J s rc s c e t nd s i udge F.D e s Sa o t co uc t co olda e nni yl r o nd t he ns i t d prtilpr e ngs The J L as is a Condii lTrnse Or r (û ' t tlsed era oce di . PM lo sued tona a fr de ûCTO' ha it ) e c c e and tm el notc of Oppos ton w e e fl d i ea h c e.4 The J L wil c i r a h as 3 i y i es ii r ie n c as PM l ons de ta f r i bo h ca e t t M D L Cour o M a 30,201 See J L Hearng I or aton, r ns e rng t s s o he t n y 3. PM i nf m i - a albe a h / v ia l t lp:/ . ml c u .o /i s p / e/ aig or e- - o 1 p f (at j . o lsg vst / mlflsHe rn - d rs 3 - 3.d ls p us ej a c s onAprl30,201 . c esed i 3) A ddii l N ECC ' Cha e 11 Tr t e ha tl d a m oton w ih t M D L Cour t tonaly, S pt r us e s i e i t he to ta se te e alNEcc-eae pes n lij r a d wr n f d ah c ssp n ig i saea r n fr h r 1 rltd ro a nu y n o gul e t a e e dn n tt nd fde a c rs puruant t 28 U. C. j 1 b)5) a 1 e r l ou t, s o S. j 57( ( nd 334.Se l Re:Ne En/l e n w and 3I W al , t a i bl CTO wa CTO- ,is d o Fe u r l 201 SeeJ L Doc ,M DL N o.241 ECF n ker he pplca e s 1 sue n br a y 4, 3. PM ket 9, No.1 .I Pr ft t a i bl CTO wa CTO- is d onFe u y22,201 Jl a ECF No. 21 n ofiq he pplca e s 2, sue br ar 3. t t a 130. . 4Se j a ECFNo 1 6( le)j a ECFNo 1 6t rfml ei t . 2 Wak r;. t i . 3 po t . - 2 Co mpoundi Phar cyel .Pr ucsLibiiyLii ton, 11 md- 9,ECF No.37( nc ma nc od t a lt taai No. :3- 0241 D. e nc ude n he us e s i Mas.M ac 1 201 . Bot oft pr sentcases ar i l d i t Tr te' M oton 1 a s rh 0, 3)5 h he e d. t . ECF No.38 a 22- J t 23. udge Sa orhase tbls a bretng s he e c er ng t Tr te' yl sa ihed i i c dul onc ni he use s Moton;albrei s dbec ee byM a l 201 J .tECFNo.87a 2. i l ifng houl ompltd y 3, 3.#=a t l I. AN ALY SIS The Cou t m us dec de w he he t nle on t m otons o s a t c e pe ng t r t i t r o l he i r t y he as ndi he ou c e of t J L' c i r ton of t a f r a t M D L Cour ' c i r ton of t t om he PM S ons de a i r ns e nd he ts ons de a i he Tr t e' M oton.For t f l i r a o ,t Cour fnds i a opra e t s a t pr ent us e s i he olow ng e s ns he ti t ppr i t o t y he es pr ee ngsuntlbot ti na sha l l oc di i h r bu l ve ' ed. u l m a ng t s de son,t Cour f l s t g da e of M e r v.Ba r A G , 1 F. n ki hi ci i he t olow he ui nc ve s ye 43 Supp.2d 1 44( D.W i.2001.TheFourh Cic thasnotf e t is buts vealditit 0 E. s ) t rui ac d he sue, e r src co t w ihi t Four h Cic t ha cied t M e r w ih a ovala f l e is a oa ur s t n he t r ui ve t o ye s t ppr nd olow d t ppr ch. See eg.lrelv.J on & J hns No.1 - v-2953,201 W L 6 928,*12 ( Md.De s . , sa ohns o on, 2 2 651 - D. c. 1 201 (rntng say pe ng tanse t M DL c trt r t n de i r ma is ) 9, 2) ga i t ndi r fr o our ahe ha cde e nd sue; M ur pit a v. D e phy- tm n puy Orhopae cs I , N 0. 3: 2 - v-31 t di . nc. 1 -c 79, 201 W L 6588 2 697, * 2 ( S. Dec 1 201 (a l J hns v.Depuy Orhopa di .l ,No.3:2 v D. C. . 7, 2) s me ; o on t e cs nc. 1 - -2274,201 2 W L 4538 642,* ( S. Oc .1 201 ta l Thec ti M e r,f cngapl nifsmoto 2 D. C. t , 2) sme . our n yes a i aitf in t r m a a de enda s m oton t s a pe ng t J L' c i r ton of tans er o e nd nd f nt ' i o t y ndi he PM S ons de a i r f , t oug y a l ed t is a saye t c s pe ng t J L' ta f ror rr t rt n hor hl nayz he s ue nd t d he a e ndi he PM S r nse de ahe ha r e o t m o i t r m and.M e r ,1 F,Supp. a 1 47. ul n he ton o e ye s 43 2d t 046The cou ti M e r des r be isa oac i t sw a r . n ve s c i d t ppr h n hi y: ( cou ts dfrtgi pr i nays r i t t meisoft motont A1 r houl is ve elmi r cutny o he rt he i o r a l t s pr lm i r as e s e s em nd. f hi e i na y s s m nt uggess t r m ova w a i pr pe ,t t hat e l s m o r he cour shoul pr pty com pl e is consi aton and r and t cas t st e t d om l et t der i em he e o at 5NECC' bankr c i alo pe ng i t Ba upt Cour oft D ititofM as a hus t . S upty s s ndi n he nkr cy t he src s c ets 3 c u t l,o t e ohe h nd t j idci n lis e a pe r fcual o lgal o r. f n h t r a , he urs ito a su p a s a t l r e l y y difc t t c ts s ond se s d be t dee m i wheher i ntc o fi ul, he our' ec t p houl o tr ne t de ial r smia j rs ito lis e h v b e rie i oh rc s st a h v be n o ma i lr u id cina su s a e e n asd n te a e h t a e e r y be t a f r d t t M DL p oc e ng.... r ns er e o he r e di Onl i t ej rs ito lis e i b t dfiuta d smia o i e tc lt y f h u id cina su s oh ifc l n i lr r d nia o t e i ca es ta f r e or lke y t be t a f r e s d t c tpr ee t hos n s r ns e r d i l o r ns e r d houl he our oc d o t t r st and consi t m oton t s ay. he hid ep der he i o t Meyes 1 F.Supp.2d a 1 (ntr lciatons omit ) The Cour fnds t s a oa h r, 43 t 049 i e na t i ted . t i hi ppr c a opra e f t pr s ntc e . ppr i t or he e e as s The Cour ' fr t s e i c i rng t m oton t r m a unde t M e r t t i t ts i s t p, n ons de i he i o e nd r he ye s es , s o e a n iso s jc matr u idcin. eCo r hab r sro sd u t a o tisd v ri x mie t wn ube t te j rs ito Th u t r o s e iu o b s b u t i est y j rs ito 6a d fd r lq e to j rs ito , b tt e Co r ma si p se s s b e tmatr u idcin n e e a- u si n u idcin? u h u t y tl o ss u j c te l j rs ito b vite o NECC' fl f rb n r pc Th ti, h Co r ma h vej rs ito u idcin y ru f S ing o a k u ty. a s t e u t y a u idcin i t e 28 U. C.j l md r S. 334- a tusrmo lmayha be n pr runde 28 U. C.j 1 - 1 nd h e va ve e ope r S. 452 f t cai i t ss ta et eae t 'NECC' ba upty pr e ng.Se 28 U. C.j 1 he l ms n hi ui r l ltd o' r S nkr c oc edi e S. 334 (tDqsrctc t s l ha orgna butnotexcusve j rs ci ofa1 ci lpr e ngs 'l iti ours hal ve ii l l i u iditon l vi oce di a i i unde tte 11 or a i i i or r l t d t caesunde tte 1 .)(mpha i ad dl 28 rs ng r il , r sng n e ae o s r il 1' e ' ss de ; - U. C.j 1 (û pa t ma rmov a cai Orc e ofa ton i a cvi a ton ...t t S. 452 ; ry y e e ny l m A aus ci n i l ci o he di t i t c t f t di ti t w he e s h c vi a ton i pe ng, i s h di ti c ' ha s rc our or he sr c r uc i l c i s ndi f uc s rct oul s t j rs ito o s c cam o c u e o a t n u d r scin 1 3 o t s tt .) Th Co r u idcin f u h li r a s f ci n e e t 3 4 f hi i1 '. e u t o o e' 6I GPM i i or r td a has is prnci plce o busnes i V igi a a i t a ctze of Vigi a f s nc po ae nd t i pal a f i s n r ni nd s hus ii n r ni or p r sso dv ri j rs ito .S e28U.. j1 3 ()1. t Plitfsaectznso Vigna Th rfr,i upo e f iest uidcin e y SC. 3 2 c() Boh anif r i e f rii. eeo e f i I M i ap o e d fn a tteCout a n dv ri j rs ito .nrmo i t c ssfo saec u tNECC GP s r p r ee d n h r h s o iest u idcin I e vng he a e r m tt o r, y ag dta I rue h t GPM wa fa ulnl jie b ttec u ti S n esv Me-o i,lc,No. 0 -v 5 ,2 0 W L s rud e ty on d, u h o r n a d r . dr- c n . 4:6c - 7 0 6 tn 1 8 7 ,a * 5 ( D. .J n 2 ,2 0 )rj ce t tag me to smia fcs l I 78 9 5 t l E. Va u e 6 0 6 eetd ba ru n n i lr at. f GPM wa no fa d lnl s t ru ue t y j ie ,h ndvest j rs ito d e n t xit on d te i ri uidcin o s o e s. y 1A s J udge Sayl r no ed i ano her N ECC cas be o e he wa appoi ed as t M D L J o t n t e fr s nt he udge, at lhough N ECC c e ontnded t tis a tvii ç a be e m ptfom s m e FDA r atons't sal fi nota s fce ba i f ha t ci tes ç y m xe r o egul i y' hi one çs uf int ss or fd rlq eto j rs cin. mot fd rlrg ain i ti c s ma povd ,o b a u n t sa d r o e ea u sin uidito At s, e ea e ulto s n hs a e y r ie r er po ,he tn ad f c r . eM e r l Do P a ma e tc l.l c v Th mp o 4 8 U. .8 4, 3 ( 98 )(i dn t a t e c u t a k d a e Se re l w h r c u ias n . . o s n, 7 S 0 8 2 1 6 fn ig h t h o r lc e fd rlq et n jrs cin o e atr cam ic moaig te sa d r o c r fo teFDCAI'l Re Ne e ea- u si u idit v r o t li n o rtn h tn ad f ae rm h o o . n : w ' Enal Com poundi Pha m ac Ca es a t he a Pr fiq 7:2-v- l ECF No.5-la 2.N ECC m ade sm ia and nR r v s , tac d t o ft 1 c 6 5, t i lr agum e si t pr entca es r nt n he es s . - 4 I . > c n l e t td tr nng i j rs ito u d rt e esau e i 'a t l o lgal d fiut' o cud s ha eemii t u idcin n e h s tt ts s û cual r e l ifc l' s f y y f r pur es of t M e r t s , f r s ve al r as .Fi s ,none of t pa te ha r i e or o pos he ye s e t o e r e ons r t he ri s ve a s d bre edt i s Alo,t is i c if he s ue, s he s ue s omplc t d by t f d t tNECC di notfl f rba u c ia e he a ha d ie o nkr pt y untlalri rmove t c e t fdea c t On t sstoff t,t Co tss j d matr i fe t e d he as s o e rl our. hi e acs he ur' ub e te j rs ito u d r28U. C.j 1 3 a d 1 5 i n tsr ihf r r u idcin n e S. j 3 4 n 4 2 s o tag to wad. The s cond se unde t M e r a oa i t d t r i w he he i ntc or s m ia e tp r he ye s ppr ch s o t e m ne de t r de i al i l r j rs ci lis ha be n riedi ohe c s st tha be n orma beta fre t t u iditona sues ve e as n t r a e ha ve e y rnserd o he M D L pr e ng.'M e r , 1 F.Su 2d a 1 oc edi ' ve s 43 pp. t 049.The Co te iy a w e s t s quesi i ur asl ns r hi ton n t afi m atve.N ECC s d is m e c ton t l a m edi a pr de s i a num be ofs a e ,w ho he fr i ol t di a i o oc l c l ovi r n r tts i t n ij ce t alege y dee tvese odsi ot paint.Theepatent coul t n ha n ur n e td he l dl fci tr i nt he te s s i s d he ve a l s a co o a e c ai aga ns a lke y i s a e de e nt w hi h woul de e t di r iy t ea t l r bl l m i t i l n- t t f nda , c d f a ve st j rs ito .Th s me ag me t f rte p o a l lc o f d rlq sin j rs ito wo l u id ci n e a r u n s o h r b be a k f e ea-ueto u idcin u d a y t t s ot r ca e .N ECC' ba upt y w o d a y t a lpo e i l ta f r ed a tons ppl o he e he s s S nkr c ul ppl o l t nta r ns e r c i a t 1 a i nst ta e c r nty c a ne i t N ECC M D L.Se Pe ng M D L D oc t , nd he 38 d o ha r ur e l ont i d n he e ndi ke s ht /t / pr . ml s o lsg vsts p / e ge dng M DL c es y src- rc - j . c u .o /ie / mlGls n i p u j -Do k t-b -DititM h s 201 pdf(atviied Aprl30,201 .M a i notmos,oft s a tonslkey ha smia 3. ls st i 3) ny, f t he e ci i l ve i lr r m ovalor ba upt y i s .I e t s Cour ha had c es wih sm ia i s s t a f r e t e nkr c s ues nde d, hi t s as t i l r s ue r ns e r d o t M D L Cour .W he J he t n udge Sa o dec des o t s i s hi r i willkel a f c do ns of yl r i n hi s ue, s ulng l i y f e t ze CaSeS. TheCour ne consdeswhehe asa s dbegrntd.tg oulsl k t fcor s h t xt i r t r ty houl a e tcj ' oo o a t s uc t as t l ngl oft r que t d s a t har hi t tt m ova w oul f ce i t m oto we e he e h he e s e t y, he ds p ha he nt d a f he in r deni t bur a st woul i pos on t nom novant and w het t say w oul pr ot ed, he den ay dm e he , her he t d om e j cale no by a dng d i tve ltgai ' I r Mut Fundsl Lii ,M DL No. udii co my voii uplcai ii ton. n e . ' nv. ta. 1 2011 W L 1 34,a *1 ( M d.Apr 20,2011.dg-he powert sa pr e ngsi 586, 5401 t D. . ) d-j l o ty oc edi s i i nt t t pow e it r nt i e r co tt c t ol t di poston of t c us on is nc de al o he r rhe e n ve y ur o on r he s ii he a es t docke wih e onom y of tm e a e f t f is l ,f co e ,a f r ltga t . Landi v.N . t t c i nd f or or t e f or uns l nd o ii n s ' ' s Am.Co.299 U. 248,254 ( 936 ;s alo Clnt v.J ,520 U. 681 706 ( 997)(s'e , S. 1 ) ee s i on ones S. , 1 tf -h D i ti tCour has br d dic e i t s a pr ce ngs as a i de t is pow e t c r is src t oa s r ton o t y o edi n nci nt o t r o ontol t owndoc t' ke.). The Cour a i pa e t t a say,i gr nt w o d be r a i l bref The J L w il t ntci t s ha t f a ed, ul el tve y i . PM l m ee i l s t n a m ont t c i rt t a f ror r a w illke y de de t i s t s m e t n e s ha h o ons de he r ns e de nd l i l ci he s ue he a da The br e i i f ontofJ y. i tng n r udge Sa o wilbe c pl t i t wee a a de son w ilbe yl r l om e ed n wo ks nd ci i l f t m i s t r a tr orhco ng oon he e f e . Th itr sso j dca e o o as ce ry fv rsa ig te l iain. g r ls o e nee t f u iil c n my lo lal a o tyn h i g to Re a de s f t w he he t Cour r a t r he t em nds t pr s nt ca es N ECC ' Cha e 11 Tm see d a m s t t J he e e s , S pt r t i ha udge Sa or m a t a f r t s c s f o f e a ptsat c tunde 28 U. C.jj 1 b)5)a yl y r ns e he e a es r m ed r l t e our r S. 57( ( nd - 1 334. e ge r ly W a ke , o.7: 2- v- 4, Se ne a l l rN 1 c 56 ECF N o.23- ;Pr ft, o. 1 c 61 ECF N o. 1 of it N 7: 2- v- 5, 1 - .Th ,de i ig t sj rs ito lis ema b e trl u n c say M o e ve,d lyn 5 1 us cdn hi u id cina su y e n iey n e e s r . ro r ea ig c i r ton of t pr e t m oto alow s f a1 t N Ecc- el t d ca e t be dec d i a ons de a i he es n i ns l or 1 he r ae s s o i ed n cons s e m a rby J i t nt nne udge Sa o a t J L. yl r nd he PM Ast prj c t t pa te ,t r i no pe ng moton i t s cass t sa t o eudie o he ris he e s ndi i n he e e o ty he pr e ngs a he e t r i no m ovi or non- ovi pa t a t oce di nd nc he e s ng m ng r y, lhoug N ECC ha fl d a h s ie N otc i e c c s a ki t Cour t s a t c e.ECF N os 23,1 R e r e s none oft i e n a h a e s ng he t o t y he as . 5. ga dl s , he pa tesa elkel t beprj c i t Cou tsayst pr e ngsf ar ai l brefpei ri r i y o eudied f he r t he oc edi or eltvey i rod. G i t bankr cy s ay as t N ECC and t lkel pace of t ltgaton agai t I ven he upt t o he i y he ii i ns GPM eiher t i t MDL Cour ori saeco tt spei i note si a lkey wilnotbeprj cil n he t n tt ur, hi rod s xce sve nd i l l eudi a 6 i t lat Thus t Cour c l est tt j ca e onomyc r a t s r peid o n he e s. ,he t oncud ha he udiil c oncens nd he ho t ro f t sa ceal out i t bur nst a ij e pat he ty l ry wegh he de o ny n urd ry. The Cour t r o e s a t pr e pr e di t tl t J L has nled o t t he ef r t ys he es nt oc e ngs m i he PM l n he pe ng ta f aci nsa J ndi r nser to nd udge Sayl hasr e o t Tr te' M o i n t Tr ns e .l bot or uld n he use s to o a f r f h ti rbuna s nle a i tt a f r a oft pa tes m a m ove t Cour t lf t s a a i s a l l ga ns r ns e , ny he ri y he t o i t he t y nd s ue r i on t m otonst r m a a di m i s ulng he i o e nd nd s s . A n a opr a e or rs l i s t s da ppr i t de ha l s ue hi y. va 0 3 s r u: hs >.'dyo- y2 1. x- .v i a a f s , z ' , ' 4 J Ho . es C.Tur k Seni Unie St t s Di t i tJ dg or t d a e s rc e

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