Thomas, et al v. Blue Cross, et al, No. 1:2003cv21296 - Document 2182 (S.D. Fla. 2014)
Court Description: ORDER granting 2153 Defendant Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina's Motion to Enforce Injunction. Jemsek must withdraw claims for Defamation and Tortious Interference with Business Relationship within 20 days of Order. Signed by Chief Judge Federico A. Moreno on 3/17/2014. (rtn)
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Thomas, et al v. Blue Cross, et al Doc. 2182 UN I TED STA TES D I STRI COURT FOR THE CT SO UTHERN D I STRI OF FLO RI CT DA M i iD i si am vi on Cas N um ber: 03e 21296-Cl M O RENO VRI LOVE,M . . etal, CK D, . Pl ntf s ai if , VS. BLU E C RO SS A N D ASSOCI TI ,etaI, A ON . B LU E SH IELD Def endant s. / O RD ER G M NTI DEFEN DANT BLU E CR O SS AND BLUE SH IELD O F NO RTH NG CAR OLI A ' M O TIO N TO ENFO RCE I JUNCTIO N N S N 1.Background Thi acton com menced i Norh Car i aspartoft over chi fove case,a m uliditi , s i n t olna he ar ng t- srct cl - ton ltgaton i tat byphysci agai thealh i ur assac i ii i nii ed i ans ns t ns ancecom pani .Thephysci i ove es i ans nf alege t healh i ance com pani engaged i a cons r t i lat pr is by s t atcaly l d hat t nsur es n piacy o nt e oft ysem i l denyi del ng, di i s ngpaym ent duet t physci Thr ng, ayi and m nihi s o he i ans. oughoutt ltgaton, etl ent he ii i s tem s wer r e eached bet ween num er physci and s aloft i ur . Thi Cour appr ous i ans ever he ns ers s t oved one s uch stlme ,heSete n Age me tdae a ofAprl 2007(d na Appr lOr r'( E.1 61 et ntt tlme t re n td s e i27, û l ova de' D. 28 , Fi ) whihej ne cl sme r f m flngn w lws t i whihiRelasdCli 'aeas t a ai t c noi d as mbes or ii e a uisn c ' e e ams'r sered g ns k la e Pa t .'Se Fi l pr lOr ra ! 9. s e s d ri ' e na Ap ova de t Re es On Se embe 1 20 De e n Bl Cr sa Bl Shi dof t Ca olnaCû pt r 8, 06, f nda t ue os nd ue el Norh r i BCBSNC' ' ) fld ac an a ai tJ ms k Clni P. a J e G. e e M . ( ol c iel,t e e ' i ie omplit g ns e c i c, A. nd os ph J ms k, D. c l tv y ç ms k' n e l ) Norh Car i sat coul s ng t hol J t olna t e ' eeki o d emsek labl f br t i e or eachi t partes'pr deragr ent ng he i ovi eem . l i undiput t Jem s di notoptoutoft ftvc s tem ent and i t ef e a cl s mem ber l ts s ed hat ek d he p etl , s her or as .t i alo undiput t tt Fi Appr s s s ed ha he nal ovalOr i udesBCBSNC as a Rel ed Pary. J sek f l der ncl eas t em ied f bankr cy,and t s a e cour cas was r oved t t Unied St es Bankr cy Courtf t or upt he t t t e em o he t at upt or he Dockets.Justia.com W es er D iti ofNorh Car i J sek t fl count cl m s agai tBCBSNC,r sng ni t n srct t olna. em hen ied er ai ns aii ne caus ofacton. Seven oft ni count cl m s wer dim ised as Rel ed Cl m s,and t Cour es i he ne er ai e s s eas ai he t pem itd Cou V ( f mai )a Cou VI ( to l t re e ewih Busne sReai hi)t r te nt De a ton nd nt I Torius n e fr nc t i s ltons p o c tn ( E. 1 ,: oniue.D. No. 651 . Or r'. 2008 de' ) Count V and V I, as orgi l pl aleged t BCBSNC m ade unt ue sat ent t s l i naly ed, l hat r t em s hat dipar s aged J s concer ng t teat em ek ni he r mentofpatent suferng fom Lym e D ieas Jem s aleged i s fi r s e. ek l t e sat ent w er m adet t M edi Boar andt Cent f D ieas Contolamong ot s,and hes t em s e o he cal d he er or s e r , her t tt sae nt wee f s a d da g J ms k' r pu ai an sa di i t c u t ( E. ha he ttme s r ale n ma ed e e s e t ton d t n ng n he omm niy. D. 1 6- a ! 70 7 881 Purua t t 2008Ore,hecli f dea tona tri si efrnc 30 4 t ! , 3, . s nto he d rt ams or fmai nd o tou ntree e wer notRel ed Cl m s and Jem s coul pur ueeach cause ofacton i Norh Car i e eas ai , ek d s i n t olna. I. l BCBSNC' M oton t Enf c l unc i S i o or e nj ton On Januar 27, 2014,Jem s am ended t t o r y ek he w emai ng count cl m s. A s par of is ni er ai t t def i count r hert alegi t t def at y s aement wer m ade t t M edi Boar amaton , at han l ng hat he am or t t s e o he cal d a CDC,e e al esh sae nsi r ma t, mon oh r,e e 'qpainta oh rBle nd Jms k l te ttme t û e de o a g te sJ mskgs te s nd te u eg we Cr se iis'( E.21 4- a ! 961 J msk alge t s sae nt c s d sgniia tda g s os ntte. D. 5 4 t ' . e e le s hee ttme s au e i fc n ma e i udi dam age t t rr aton and sandi i t com m uniy,and wer know i y made t har ncl ng o hei eput i t ng n he t e ngl o m J msk' busnes 1 .a ! 97,99,1 Aspatofist tousi efrnc c t Jmsk ale e e e s i s. d t ! 00. r t ori ntree e oun, e e lg s BCBSNC' actons iunder i patent confdence . ..and i S i û m ned i i nduced t e patent t ref ai f om hes i so rn r c ntnuigt s e teame t,t itre i wi t c rcua r ains psc r to pr pe tve o i n o e k r t nllhus nefrng t he onta t lelto hi , uren r os ci , h b t e ge e a tepaintrl'd. t! 1 3. ewe n lmskl nd h te s.'1 a 0 l lghtof t Januar 201 amendm ent, BCBSN C moves t s Coul t enf ce t Fi n i he y 4 s hi ' o or he nal t A ppr O r agai tJ s and dim ist am ended count cl m sasRel ed Cl m sundert oval der ns em ek, s s he er ai eas ai he 2007 Setl entA gr ent BCBSNC fr tar tem eem . is guest tundert l ha he anguageoft Setl entA gr ent he tem eem , tec us ofa to a t unde l ngale tons ( )a ieou ofa r a et t ema tr r fr nc d h a es c in nd he ryi lgai ; 1 rs t nd elt o h te s ee e e i ftv ( r aet t b i s prcie t taet s jc oft Sete n Agre n;a / () n le;2) elt o he usnes a tc s ha r he ube t he tlme t e me t ndor 3 r at t any as el e o pectofa f f s vi cl m . l suppor,BCBSN C poi st Jem s snew alegaton ee or er ce ai n t nt o ek' l i tt ha BCBSNC' a t wer t a t t spr e st lmitea nt mon yt tipai t (e e .fi S cs e û r ofhi oc s o i th mou of e ha t d o J mskl' t p ' a !4.Se ond, t c BCBS rf st Th NC eer o omasv BleCr sandBl Shil s' ( b z, 4F.d81 . u os ue edAs n Kolus)59 3 4 ( 1h Ci.201 ) wh ei t Elve h Cic thed ta aphysci sllnoi sae1w cl msfr 1 t r 0, er n he e nt rui l h t i an' li s tt a ai o def i and t tousi erer amaton ori nt f ence wer bar ed by t fov ac i s2007 Setl e r he e ton' tementA gr entand eem Cour ' Fi Appr ts nal ovalOr . BCBSN C ar der guesJem s sam ended alegatons ar t same ast ek' l i e he hose a s re i Kol us ,a t r f e t sCou tmus sm ia l fnd i BCBS C' f vo . s e t d n b z nd he e or hi r t i l ry i n N Sa r I r pons Jem s ar n es e, ek gues t Kol z decii does notafectt s acton and i ot wie he bus son f hi i s her s ditnguihabl on is f s.Jem s ar s i s e t act ek guest sCourts2008 Or i t il oft cas 'and apples hi ' der s he 'aw he e' i t t am e o he nded cl m s,and t t am endm ent i any eventar notm at i ,butsi pl el at t ai hat he sn e eral m y abor e o w hom t alegedl def at y s at ent w er m ade. Jem s al ar he l y am or t em s e ek so guest tBCBSN C has known ha snce 2008 t t cl m s i ve def at y sat ent m ade t Jem s spatent ,and BCBSN C i i hat he ai nvol am or t em s o ek' i s s t ef e esopped f om brngi a moton t enf ce. her or t r i ng i o or 11 A nal i 1. yss Th Courmus ga BCBSNC' moinit e c tonse s:()Jms ki acl sme r e t t rnt S to fhre ondii xit i e e s as mbe; (i BCBSNC i aRel s d Pa t a (i)t ecl msa is i t Countr li a eRee s dCli . i) s ea e ry; nd ii h ai t s ue n he e cam r la e ams The fis and second pr rt ongs ar notatisue. The key i ue bef e t sCourti w het rt causesof e s ss or hi s he he acton f def aton and t tousi er er i or am i ori nt f ence ar Rel ed Cl m s. e eas ai The f ct and l i uesi t scas r r t Cour t f l t El a s egal ss n hi e equie he t o olow he event Cicui' deci on h r ts si i Kol n busz.Ther aphysi an as ert cl m sf def aton andt i i erer e, ci s ed ai or am i ortous nt f ence and aleged,i e l ntr ala: 1 t eCor atone g di i r er a tc c usngt ep i a t l ee si paint an i ( ) h por i nga e n mp op pr c ies a i h hyscin o os xitng te s d r fral; 2 t Co ortonf s l i onme t pa in st thercai swe ede e be a eKol z ee r s ( ) he m ai aley nf d he te t ha t i l m r nid c us bus had pr ded unnecess y and i ovi ar nappr i e car and engaged i f oprat e, n raudul or deceptve bilng ent i li p a tc s ( ) te Cor or ton dr a y t pa int by wr gf l r f i t pa f r me c r cie ; 3 h p ai ove wa he te s on uly e usng o y o dial pr e ur s a ( )t Co portonen ge i t s p a tc st ol yt r du eisfna il ia ins' oc d e ; nd 4 he r ai ga d n he e r c ie t el o e c t i nca oblg to ' s t hi . 549 F. at822. Thi Cour hel as i di t year eari i is2008 Or i t Jems o m 3d s t d, t d wo s ler n t der n he ek acton,t tt cl m sf def i ha he ai or amaton and t i i erf ence wer notRel ed Cl m s. i ortous nt er e eas ai TheEl event Cicui r sed. l hel t t cl m swer bared by t br l h r t ever t d he wo ai e r he oad anguage oft he 2007 Setlm entAgr ent te eem : Ther i oft dit itcourt ot contar wasan abuseofdicr i f t r ulng he s rc t he r y s eton or wo easons. Fis ,hedit itcourti r l r onedt Kol z' cl m soft tousi er er r t t s rc ncor ecty eas hat bus s ai ori nt f ence and def a i ar unr at t t alega i m ade i t cl acton becaus t am ton e el ed o he l tons n he ass i e hey hi on whet t Corpor ton Ei entonaly comm uni ed def a or and f s nge her he a i snt i l cat am t y ale i or aton t Dr Kol z' patent ' I i ir evantt Kol z' cl m sdepend on nf m i o . bus s i s.' t s r el hat bus s ai adif entl t y t t cl msas ert i t cl acton orr r Kol zt f er egal heor han he ai s ed n he ass i equie bus o pr m ater i addii t ordif entfom t cl m sas ert i t cl sacton.The ove t s n ton o fer r he ai s ed n he as i cl m r ease ext ai el endst ûany and al causesofacton ...ofwhat od l i everki s ce or nd, our char er'hatar r a edt mater addr s i t cl acton,i udi tanttus act 't e elt o t s es ed n he ass i ncl ng l ir tand ot sat or and com m on l cl m s i entonalornon-nt i her t ut y aw ai , nt i i entonal...t ar wer hat e, e, orcoul have been as t agai tany oft Rel d sered ns he eased Pari ' Thi br l tes.' s oad anguage enc pas Kol z' cl m s of t tous i er er om ses bus s ai ori nt f ence and def aton. Second,t am i he ditit ou tron ousyras dta t camsaenotee sdbe a et yle rg src c rer e l e one h the li r rlae c us he s quie) r ahihl fcua a l i ofe nst talge yt pl elngatrt (ls aton g y a t l nayss ve t ha le dl ook ac o fe he cas ci q was fl ' Under t s te ent agr entent ed i t cl s acton,t r evant ied.' he etlm eem er n he as i he el i r f de er i ng whet a cl m i r eas i notw he hert ac sgi ng riet nquiy or t m ni her ai s el ed s t he t vi s o t com pl ntoccured afert cl acton was fl ort s tem entagr entwas he ai r t he ass i ied he etl eem ent ed,butw he hert occur ed afert efectve dat oft setl entagr er t hey r t he f i e he tem eement . The cl m r eas apples t cl m s ûarsng on orbef e t Ef ectve dat ' and t ai el e i o ai d ii or he f i e,' he s te entagr entpr dest t efectvedat i onebusi day aferal appeal etlm eem ovi hat he f i es ness t I s fom t fnala r lor raedimisd.W edimisdwihprj c a1a as r he i ppova de r s se s se t eudie 1 ppe l fom t fnal oval deron J 19, r he i appr or une 2009.Kol z' cl m soft i i er er bus s ai ortous nt f ence and def aton arie fom act t occur ed bef et ef ec i dat whi i t onl am i s r s hat r or he f tve e, ch s he y dat t dit i cour s d have consder e he s rct t houl i ed. 1 Jem s atem pt t ditnguih isalegatonsfom t eofKol z,ar ng fr tt t tagr d. ek t s o s i s t l i r hos bus gui is hat he l ancy oft def he amat y s a em ent made by BCBSN C r or t t s each a degr ofi entonalt notpr enti Kol z, ee nt i iy es n bus and s econd t t s at ent have not ng t do w ih t m ater r s i Love. hat he t em s hi o t he t s aied n TheCour di ees Fis,t underyi f soft sacton ar m or hansufi entyanal t sagr . r t he l ng act hi i e et fci l ogous t t ei Kol s J mskalge dea t ysae nsweema t painst tc usdij yt o hos n buz. e e le s fmaor ttme t r de o te t ha a e nur o J s sr atonand busi s.Dr Jem s alegeshi pa i sw er f s y i or ed t hepr ded em ek' eput i nes . ek l s tent e alel nf m hat ovi medi l unneces ar and i caly s y nappr at car and t t he engaged i f aud. M or opri e e, ha n r eover Jem s s , ek' c er ai sars f om act occur i bef et June l 2009 efec i dat ount cl m ie r s rng or he 9, f tve e. Second, s salega i belet ar ent hateach cl m hasnor aton t t oveacton. Jem ek' l tons i he gum t ai el i o hef i N ot y,i par aph 4 ofis Second Am ended Count cl m s,Jem s alegest ûBCBSN C sared abl n agr t er ai ek l hat û tt ac mpagnt dice tDr Jms ka hi prcie'a da patoft sc mpai i de( fmaor a i o srdi .e e nd s a tc , n s r hi a gn i ' ma dea t yl sae nst t (e e s paint, f spar oft spr est Imi t amountofmone t i ttme t o he Jmsk'l te s' i ' a t hi oc s o i t he y hat t pai t I ms kl'( E. 54a !41(mp ssa d) l e ,J mskc itnl te BCBSNC' d o le e . D. 21 t ' e ha i dde . nde d e e onsse ty is S alg da to t ispr e sngofJ msk' r mbure n cai . e eg.D. 21 a !5 (ç hie le e cins o t oc si e e s ei sme t l ms Se, . , E. 54 t 2 i l W BCBS waspef mi is me c lrviw ofge e s cams i mad f s a dea t y NC ror ng t dia e e l msk'l li , t e ale nd fmaor sae nt t (e e s paint . .ha sv r yda g d(e e .) ttme s o Jmsk'l te s . t t e eel ma e Jmsk1' . ' TheCo trj csJ msk' agu ntt tt 2008Ore i t dlw oft c s . Und t s ur ee t e e s r me ha he d r s he s a he a e' er hi ' doc rne,cours may notr stis t twer deci explcil orby i plcaton i a prorappeal ti t evii s ues ha e ded i ty m i i n i . #. ,T sv U. ,572F.d 1 1 ( 1h Ci.200 .J mskc e sta BCBS di not g. homa . S. 3 300, 303 1 t r 9) e e onc de h t NC d appealt pori oft 2008 Or addr i def i and t tousi er er he ton he der essng amaton ori nt f ence,and t ef et her or he Elv nt Cic tç dno ( a drs t t camswhihweenotej ne '( E. 60a 7n.)s e e e h rui i di t ) d e s he wo li c r noi d. D. 21 t 9; e ' alo Thoma ,51 F.d a l ( ol ng t e lw oft e c s docrne é oesn ba c nsd r to of s s 2 3 t 304 h di h a h a e ti d d ot r o ie a in matr t t oul h vebe n, ut r n , e ol d'i apror ppe l ( ia i omi e .TheCour as te s ha c d a e b wee otr s ve 'n i a a) ctton t d) l t lo rjcsJmsk'e t pel dlc sagumens Whiet pate ha patcpae i dic eyon-ndee t e e s sop an a he r t. l he ris ve rii td n sov r a of snce2008, s di notfl isamended count cl m suntlJ fi Jem ek d ie t er ai i anuar 27,201 and BCBSN C fl y 4, ied isobeto a s t tvemoinswi non t t e we ks' t j cins nd ubsani to t hi e o hre e . 1 e e ag sBCBSNC s dha emov dt ej nt c trli onc iwaspu on J msk rue houl v e o noi he ounecams e t t n iedurngdic eyofJ e sp e i a ndmens WhieBCBSNC rj t t noint ti otc i sov r ems k' otntal me t. l eecs he to ha t wase eronnotc ,J e sagumen i est fc t t e e waie ye r t eisa nd d v ie ems k' r tgnor he a t ha J msk td as ohl t me e c t cli .TheCo ti he ia tt plc t bur n,dui dic ey,ont e j ni pat t ouner ams ur s stn o a e he de rng sov r he noi ng ry o s cour ac i bef e t opposi pary has fl a si e docum entorot wie m ade is l eek t ton or he ng t ied ngl her s t egal t i cl heores ear. Accor ngl t Cour fnds Jem s s cl m s f def aton and t tous i er er di y, he ti ek' ai or am i ori nt f ence w ih t busi r atons p ar Rel ed Cl m swher t ars outofand r at t t m ater i fov , and ness el i hi e eas ai e hey ie el e o he t s n e t rfr BCBSNC' moint ej nJ mskmus bega e heeoe S to o noi e e t rntd. ADJUD GED t : hat ( )De e a BCBS Smotont e o c i GRANTED .Pli if J m s kClni, P. and 1 f nd nt NC' i o nf r e s antfs e e i c A. Jos eph Jem s M . ' s ek, D.S econd am ended count cl m s f def aton and t i er ai or am i ortous i er er ew ihbusnes reltonshi ar RelasedCl m sundert 2007Setl entAgr ent nt f enc t i s ai p e e ai he tem eem asappr oved by t s Cour i t Fi Appr hi t n he nal ovalOr , a dJ mski t r or ej ne fo der n e e s heef e noi d rm pur ui eac cl m agai tBCBSN C. s ng h ai ns ( J mskCl c, A.a J t G.emsk, . s lha et ny( )da fo t dae 2) e e i P. nd osph J e M D. hal v we t 20 ys rm he t ni oft s O r t w ihdr is cl m s f Def i and Tori l erer hi der o t aw t ai or amaton tous nt f ence w ih Busnes t i s Reltons p. I J m s k f is t vol t r l w ihdr w t s c a m s J sek m a be hel i a i hi f e t a l o un a i t a he e l i , em y y d n cont ptby t sCourt em hi . D ONE AN D ORDERED i Cham ber atM i i Fl i t s n s am , orda, hi # day ofM ar 201 ch, 4. FEDERI A . O UN I TED S ES D I STRI JUDGE CT Copi pr ded t es ovi o: Couns ofRecor el d
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