JOHN R. TUNHEIM, District Judge.
Plaintiff John Schedin brought claims against defendant Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Ortho-McNeil") for failure to warn about certain risks he was taking in using its drug, Levaquin, specifically the risk of tendon rupture. Schedin's action was the first case tried from many plaintiffs whose claims have been consolidated for coordinated pretrial proceedings in multi-district litigation. The jury found for Schedin and awarded compensatory and punitive damages. Ortho-McNeil now moves for a new trial claiming the verdicts are against the clear weight of the evidence and that the defendant was denied a fair trial by erroneous evidentiary rulings and improper closing arguments by Schedin. Ortho-McNeil also moves for judgment as a matter of law ("JMOL") on substantially the same issues as those raised in the motion for a new trial.
Plaintiff John Schedin was prescribed Levaquin for an upper respiratory infection in February of 2008 and, after eight days of consuming the drug, he suffered bilateral Achilles tendon ruptures. (Compl. ¶ 108, Docket No. 1.) At the time Schedin was prescribed Levaquin, the drug contained a warning regarding tendon rupture that stated:
As an initial matter, Ortho-McNeil submitted a letter to the Court arguing that the Supreme Court decision in Mensing, issued after briefing on the instant motions, should dictate the outcome of these motions. (Docket No. 257.) Mensing discussed pre-emption in the context of prescription drugs. Pre-emption is the application of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution,
Pre-emption can be either express or implied. Express pre-emption is found when Congress "pre-empt[s] state law by so stating in express terms." Hillsborough Cnty., Fla. v. Automated Med. Labs., Inc., 471 U.S. 707, 712-13, 105 S.Ct. 2371, 85 L.Ed.2d 714 (1985) (citing Jones v. Rath Packing Co., 430 U.S. 519, 525, 97 S.Ct. 1305, 51 L.Ed.2d 604 (1977)). Express pre-emption is not at issue in this case.
However, where Congress has not expressly pre-empted state law, a court will infer implied pre-emption
The Mensing Court held that a generic drug manufacturer meets the burden of impossibility pre-emption for state failure to warn claims by showing that it could not "independently satisfy those state duties" due to its position in the Food and Drug Administration's ("FDA") regulatory scheme. Mensing, 131 S.Ct. at 2581. Under Mensing, Ortho-McNeil argues Schedin's claims against it are pre-empted since they required "independent action" by the FDA. This "independent action" standard of Mensing, however, is not controlling for several reasons.
First, the Supreme Court noted that its finding of impossibility pre-emption of state law failure to warn claims for generic manufacturers did
Secondly, the manner in which the Mensing Court defined the duty of generic manufacturers—to maintain exactly the same label as the brand-name product— implies a heightened duty for brand-name manufacturers since the brand-name manufacturers are the only entities that
Congress and the FDA have always been clear, however, that they want warnings strengthened when necessary. The FDA requires that warnings "shall describe adverse reactions and potential safety
Brief for the Unites States as Amicus Curiae Supporting Respondents at *5-6, Mensing, 131 S.Ct. 2567 (Nos. 09-993, 09-1039, 09-1501), 2011 WL 741927 (2011)[hereinafter "U.S. Amicus Brief"] (citing various applicable FDA regulations).
Unlike these clear mandates applicable primarily to brand-name manufacturers, the Mensing Court found the FDA regulations only empowered a generic manufacturer to
Given the power to initiate a label change that a brand-name manufacturer had in the pre-2007 FDA regulatory scheme, the Wyeth Court held that a brand-name manufacturer had to demonstrate by "clear evidence" that the FDA would
Ortho-McNeil, in its post-briefing letter to the Court, submitted
U.S. Amicus Brief at *25 (citing 21 C.F.R. § 201.57(e) (2001)). As a result, the Court finds the letter from the FDA falls short of the clear evidence standard, even if it had been properly a part of the trial record. That the FDA did not require a label change, after it received the statutory authority to do so, in the face of a Citizen's Petition, not supported by the manufacturer does not constitute clear evidence that the FDA would have
As discussed more thoroughly later in this Order, Ortho-McNeil asserts that the fact it would have had to apply for a waiver to include comparative toxicity information in Levaquin's label supports its argument that these motions should be evaluated under the "independent action" standard of Mensing.
The Mensing Court rationalized the differing standards for generic and brand-name manufacturers in part on the fact that most problems associated with a drug will become evident during the patent period for a drug. "[G]enuinely new information about drugs in long use (as generic drugs typically are) appears infrequently... because patent protections ordinarily prevent generic drugs from arriving on the market for a number of years after the brand-name drug appears." Mensing, 131 S.Ct. at 2581 n. 9 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). Accordingly, a heightened duty for a brand-name manufacturer makes practical sense. The brand-name manufacturer must be vigilant for problems and provide adequate labeling during the patent life of its drugs. For all these reasons, the Court finds that
Under Rule 59(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court may grant a motion for a new trial "on all or some of the issues...." Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(a)(1). "A new trial is appropriate when the first trial, through a verdict against the weight of the evidence ... or legal errors at trial, resulted in a miscarriage of justice." Gray v. Bicknell, 86 F.3d 1472, 1480 (8th Cir.1996). "The authority to grant a new trial is within the discretion of the district court." Id. Ortho-McNeil argues it is entitled to a new trial since the clear weight of the evidence did not support the verdict, the Court made erroneous evidentiary rulings, and Schedin made improper arguments in closing during the punitive damages phase, requiring a new trial on Ortho-McNeil's liability.
With regard to the weight of the evidence, a new trial is warranted if "the verdict was against the great, clear, or overwhelming weight of the evidence." Frumkin v. Mayo Clinic, 965 F.2d 620, 625 (8th Cir.1992). Further, only if the jury's verdict is so against the great weight of the evidence that it constitutes a miscarriage of justice should a motion for a new trial should be granted. Ogden v. Wax Works, Inc., 214 F.3d 999, 1010 (8th Cir.2000). In other words, there is a miscarriage of justice when there is insufficient evidence to support a verdict. Douglas Cnty. Bank & Trust Co. v. United Fin. Inc., 207 F.3d 473, 478 (8th Cir.2000). "On a motion for new trial, the district court is entitled to interpret the evidence and judge the credibility of witnesses, but it may not usurp the role of the jury by granting a new trial simply because it believes other inferences and conclusions are more reasonable." Manus v. Am. Airlines, Inc., 314 F.3d 968, 973-74 (8th Cir. 2003) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Harris v. Sec'y, U.S. Dept. of the Army, 119 F.3d 1313, 1318 (8th Cir.1997) ("In determining whether a verdict is against the weight of the evidence, the trial court ... can weigh the evidence, disbelieve witnesses, and grant a new trial even where there is substantial evidence to sustain the verdict. The district court, however, may not reweigh the evidence and set aside the jury verdict merely because the jury could have drawn different inferences or conclusions or because judges feel that other results are more reasonable." (internal quotation marks and citations omitted)).
Ortho-McNeil argues that the jury's verdict on Schedin's failure to warn claim is against the clear weight of the evidence because Schedin failed to prove that the Levaquin label was inadequate to communicate the risks of tendon disorders. Ortho-McNeil also argues that the verdict contravened the weight of the evidence because information regarding the comparative toxicity of other fluoroquinolones, information Schedin alleged rendered the label inadequate, did not exist with scientific certainty. Finally, Ortho-McNeil argues the punitive damages award is not supported by the clear weight of the evidence since it took several affirmative steps to enhance the Levaquin warning based on events in Europe, thereby negating a finding of deliberate disregard.
Ortho-McNeil argues that Schedin failed to prove the label was inadequate
Ortho-McNeil relies on case law supporting the proposition that warnings are adequate as a matter of law when a plaintiff has not identified a piece of information that would have convinced the prescribing physician to alter his treatment regimen. See, e.g., Greiner v. Sofamor, S.N.C., No. 4-95-645, 1999 WL 716891, at *5 (D.Minn. Mar. 8, 1999). However, the jury could infer from the fact that Beecher no longer prescribes Levaquin that
Ortho-McNeil next argues that since Beecher admitted he had not read the Levaquin label in effect at the time of the Schedin's prescription in 2005, no additional information in that label could have altered his prescribing decision, breaking the causal chain. See Johnson v. Zimmer, Inc., No. 02-1328, 2004 WL 742038, at *9 (D.Minn. Mar. 31, 2004) ("[W]here an adequate warning could not have prevented a plaintiff's injuries, causation does not exist as a matter of law."). In Zimmer, the prescribing doctor testified that "he had never, in any context, seen the warnings provided...." Id. at *10. In contrast here, Beecher had read the original warning and worked with a team of doctors with whom he often discussed patients and outcomes. (Trial Tr. at 1093-94, Nov. 19, 2010.) To hold, as a matter of law, that causation does not exist in a situation where the prescribing doctor read and was aware of an initial warning and worked with other doctors who could have read the more updated label, is an unwarranted extension of Zimmer.
It also fails to account for the U.S. Supreme Court holding that "the manufacturer bears responsibility for the content of its label at all times. It is charged both with crafting an adequate label and with ensuring that its warnings remain adequate as long as the drug is on the market." Wyeth, 129 S.Ct. at 1197-98. While it is true that, in this case, a differently worded warning in the package label
The duty to warn rests on the manufacturer such that the manufacturer must do just that—warn. The jury found that fine print changes to the label of a drug that had been on the market for years with no other communication to prescribers failed to fulfill that duty. The Court finds that the jury had sufficient evidence from which to conclude Ortho-McNeil breached its duty to warn and that this breach caused Schedin's injuries. Therefore, under the standard for granting a new trial, the verdict was not against the great weight of the evidence such that it constitutes a miscarriage of justice. See Ogden, 214 F.3d at 1010.
Ortho-McNeil argues that the clear weight of the evidence does not support a finding that it owed a duty to provide comparative toxicity information for Levaquin and other fluoroquinolones.
Essentially, Ortho-McNeil argues the Court should afford more weight to the opinions of its witnesses that Levaquin is not more tendon toxic than other fluoroquinolones and that even if it is, such a determination was not evident at the time of Schedin's prescription. However, given the admissibility of the evidence proffered by Schedin's experts, to order a new trial on this basis would usurp the role of the jury in the a manner not within the discretion of the Court on a motion for a new trial. See Manus, 314 F.3d at 973-74.
Ortho-McNeil argues the punitive damages award was against the clear weight of the evidence in large part because the standard for awarding punitive damages is a higher standard than for underlying liability. See Minn. Stat. § 549.20, subd. 1(a) ("Punitive damages shall be allowed in civil actions only upon clear and convincing evidence that the acts of the defendant show deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others."). However, on a motion for a new trial, the Court applies the same standard of review regardless of the underlying burden on the plaintiff, and must view the evidence in a
Here, Schedin presented evidence that Ortho-McNeil knew of the potential for higher tendon toxicity of Levaquin (see Pl.'s Ex. 88 (letter to the FDA discussing knowledge of Ortho-McNeil in October of 2001)), assisted in the design of a study allegedly to hide that potential and cloud the field of academic literature on the topic (see Pl.'s Ex. 14 (meeting minutes discussing changes to the Ingenix study so as to protect the U.S. market)), and then failed to adequately warn prescribers as discussed above. From this, the jury had sufficient evidence to determine that Ortho-McNeil had deliberately disregarded the rights and safety of others to warrant an award of punitive damages. The Court declines to draw different inferences from the evidence as urged by Ortho-McNeil. See Harris, 119 F.3d at 1318.
The Court may also grant a new trial where improper evidentiary rulings "had a substantial influence on the jury's verdict[,]" Littleton v. McNeely, 562 F.3d 880, 888 (8th Cir.2009) (internal quotation marks omitted), and the admission of evidence was "so prejudicial that a new trial would likely produce a different result." Harrison v. Purdy Bros. Trucking Co., Inc., 312 F.3d 346, 351 (8th Cir.2002) (internal quotation marks omitted). Erroneous evidentiary rulings do not warrant a new trial unless they affected the substantial rights of the parties. Fed.R.Civ.P. 61;
At trial, Ortho-McNeil objected to the admission of evidence of post-2005 labeling of Levaquin, asserting that such evidence should have been excluded as a subsequent remedial measure, see Fed. R.Evid. 407, and that the jury would be unduly prejudiced by such evidence to conclude that pre-2005 labeling was de facto inadequate.
At trial, Ortho-McNeil objected to the admission of foreign regulatory action related to Levaquin, arguing that such evidence was hearsay, irrelevant, and highly prejudicial. The Court admitted this evidence as it was being offered for the purposes of notice and motive. In re Levaquin Prods. Liab. Litig., Nos. 08-1943, 08-5743, 2010 WL 4676973, at *5 (D.Minn. Nov. 9, 2010). The Court noted that Schedin's evidence was not final foreign regulatory action, which courts have deemed potentially prejudicial given differing regulatory schemes. Id. (citing In re Seroquel Prods. Liab. Litig., 601 F.Supp.2d 1313, 1315 (M.D.Fla.2009); In re Baycol Prods. Litig., 532 F.Supp.2d 1029, 1054 (D.Minn.2007)). Paradoxically, Ortho-McNeil submitted evidence of final foreign regulatory action at trial. (Def.'s Ex. 123.) Further, Ortho-McNeil argued such evidence
Since a core argument of Schedin's case was that Ortho-McNeil knew of the higher tendon toxicity of Levaquin because of its experiences in Europe and that it took inappropriate actions to protect its share of the U.S. market as a result, the Court finds that admission of the documents between foreign regulators and Ortho-McNeil were relevant to notice and motive. Ortho-McNeil argues it is entitled to a new trial because the admission of this evidence "encouraged jurors to defer to the judgments of foreign regulators." (Mem. in Supp. at 28, Docket No. 226.) However, foreign regulators did not require any label changes; to the extent that this evidence may have encouraged jurors to defer, it arguably would have done so in favor of Ortho-McNeil. Additionally, the Court mitigated any potential prejudice with a limiting instruction to the jury on
At trial, Ortho-McNeil objected to the discussion of AERs regarding Levaquin, arguing that such evidence was not reliable to show causation. The Court had denied its previously filed motion in limine regarding AERs, finding that the evidence was admissible to show notice and could also support a finding of causation. In re Levaquin Prods. Liab. Litig., 2010 WL 4676973, at *4. The Court noted that AER databases are commonly used by experts in the field to determine causation in conjunction with other evidence. Id. Ortho-McNeil moves for a new trial primarily based on the conclusions drawn by Bisson that the AERs and other evidence demonstrated a higher tendon toxicity for Levaquin. However, the bases of Bisson's opinions were permissible under Rule 703, as explained above, and he was subject to vigorous cross examination by Ortho-McNeil. Ortho-McNeil also presented its own experts who challenged Bisson's conclusions. (See generally Trial Tr. at 2202-2322, Nov. 30, 2010, Docket No. 206 (testimony of defense expert Dr. Peter Layde); Trial Tr. 2807-2897, Dec. 2, 2010, Docket No. 208 (testimony of defense expert Dr. George Holmes).) Finally, the Court issued a limiting instruction to the jury to mitigate any potential prejudice from the jury viewing AERs as causation evidence standing alone.
"[W]hen a new trial motion is based on improper closing arguments, a
In the context of punitive damages, "[a] defendant's dissimilar acts, independent from the acts upon which liability was premised, may not serve as the basis for punitive damages. A defendant should be punished for the conduct that harmed the plaintiff, not for being an unsavory individual or business." State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Campbell, 538 U.S. 408, 422-23, 123 S.Ct. 1513, 155 L.Ed.2d 585 (2003). Ortho-McNeil asserts that Schedin urged the jury to consider actions after Schedin's prescription, sales aids that were never seen by Beecher directly, and Ortho-McNeil's studies on Levaquin and children as a means to extend its patent. Further, it argues that Schedin improperly used an Abraham Lincoln quote from the Gettysburg Address.
First, Schedin did discuss the 2008 enhanced "black box" warning in closing. However, he did so only in the context of characterizing Ortho-McNeil's attitude towards increasing the warnings associated with Levaquin as consistent with its behavior
Second, Beecher testified that he never saw sales aids. However, Schedin's failure to warn claim rested in part on the casual nexus of Ortho-McNeil's failure to warn the medical community at large, on which Beecher relied for information. As a result, the discussion of sales aids and the absence of reference to tendon injuries and the co-administration of corticosteroids is not independent from the acts upon which liability was premised. See id.
Third, Schedin referenced Ortho-McNeil's scientific studies on Levaquin and children so as to discredit Ortho-McNeil's expert Noel who testified as to Ortho-McNeil "doing good things about kids." (Id. at 3195:25-3196:6.) The impugning of a witness, through reference to
Fourth, Schedin's use of a quote from the Gettysburg Address, while possibly an ill-fitted analogy, does not rise to the level of prejudicial argument that would incite the passion of the jury. Minnesota courts have found reference to irrelevant personal characteristics of the plaintiff an inappropriate appeal to the jury's prejudice and sympathy. See, e.g., Jensen v. Peterson, 264 N.W.2d 139, 145 (Minn.1978) (finding improper discussion of the plaintiff's physical disabilities that were unrelated to the contract dispute at issue). However, analogies to general societal experiences do not usually constitute prejudicial error. See, e.g., Hall v. Luebbers, 341 F.3d 706, 719 (8th Cir.2003) (finding no prejudice where the prosecutor, in closing, referenced war and courage and "commented about the fear of society as a whole and how this case would affect anyone presented with the same situation"). The Court finds the Civil War distant enough in history so as to not incite the personal passions of the jurors in this case. Cf. United States v. Steele, 390 Fed.Appx. 6, 15 (2d Cir.2010) (noting no prejudice in discussion of Al Qaeda in a racketeering case despite characterizing the comments as a "blatant and improper ploy to evoke images of terrorists so soon after the attacks of September 11, 2001" (referencing United States v. Burden, 600 F.3d 204 (2d Cir.2010)). In sum, the Court finds Schedin's closing arguments did not arouse such passion and prejudice in the jury, nor were they so removed from issues regarding the liability incurring actions of Ortho-McNeil, so as to warrant setting aside the punitive damages award and ordering a new trial. See Harrison, 312 F.3d at 351.
Ortho-McNeil argues Schedin's reference to profits from the sale of Levaquin required the jury to speculate improperly. Minnesota's punitive damages statute allows a jury to consider a list of factors that is not exclusive. Minn.Stat. § 549.20, subd. 3 ("Any award of punitive damages shall be measured by those factors which justly bear upon the purpose of punitive damages,
Ortho-McNeil argues that Schedin misrepresented evidence in a manner that was "plainly unwarranted and clearly injurious." See Griffin v. Hilke, 804 F.2d 1052, 1057 (8th Cir.1986). First, it argues Schedin misrepresented certain evidence—
Second, Ortho-McNeil argues that Schedin's discussion of an email newsletter erroneously implied the number of individuals involved in decisions related to labeling of Levaquin. However, review of the exhibit indicates Schedin did not misrepresent the number of people who received the email. (Pl. Ex. 1169.) Further, Schedin's argument about the exhibit related to what was missing from the email—mention of the strengthened warning label for tendon injury—which was probative of his failure to communicate claim. Therefore, the Court does not find Schedin misrepresented evidence such that a new trial is warranted.
In sum, the Court finds that Schedin's closing arguments in the punitive damages phase were not so prejudicial as to warrant a new trial on the punitive damages award. As a result, the Court denies the request for a new trial on the underlying liability.
Under Rule 50 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, judgment as a matter of law is appropriate if no reasonable juror could return a verdict for the nonmoving party. Weber v. Strippit, Inc., 186 F.3d 907, 912 (8th Cir.1999). In analyzing a Rule 50 motion, the Court must consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmovant, resolve all factual conflicts in the nonmovant's favor, and give the nonmovant the benefit of all reasonable inferences. Ogden, 214 F.3d at 1002. "[J]udgment as a matter of law is proper when the record contains no proof beyond speculation to support the verdict." Heating & Air Specialists, Inc. v. Jones, 180 F.3d 923, 932-33 (8th Cir.1999) (internal quotation marks omitted). "Motions for judgment as a matter of law must meet standards that are more stringent than the standards applied to motions for a new trial." Spectralytics, Inc. v. Cordis Corp., 650 F.Supp.2d 900, 904 (D.Minn.2009), aff'd in part, vacated in part on other grounds by 649 F.3d 1336 (8th Cir.2011).
The motions brought by Ortho-McNeil for a new trial and for judgment as a matter of law are based on substantially the same arguments. Ortho-McNeil contends Schedin did not show the Levaquin label was inadequate to warn Beecher of the risks of tendon rupture, failed to show Ortho-McNeil had a duty to provide comparative information about other fluoroquinolones, and failed to show with clear and convincing evidence that Ortho-McNeil acted with deliberate disregard. Since the Court has determined those arguments fail under the less stringent standard of that for a new trial, this Order evaluates only those arguments unique to the judgment as a matter of law motion under the more stringent standard.
In its motions in limine and earlier motions for judgment as a matter of law, Ortho-McNeil argued more extensively that the doctrine of pre-emption applied to many of the arguments made by Schedin on his failure to warn claim because of FDA regulations. Ortho-McNeil re-raises
In the Court's earlier Order on one of Ortho-McNeil's previous motions for judgment as a matter of law, the Court held that Ortho-McNeil was not impliedly preempted from providing comparative data about other fluoroquinolones in the Levaquin label based on differing language between the "[w]arnings and precautions" section of FDA labeling regulations and the "[i]ndications and usage" section. Schedin, 776 F.Supp.2d at 912-14. The latter section requires either an adequate and well controlled study to make a change to a label in that section or a waiver from this requirement. 21 C.F.R. § 201.57(c)(2)(iii). The former section allows a label change in the "[w]arnings and precautions" section regarding a "clinically significant hazard as soon as there is reasonable evidence of a causal relationship with a drug; a causal relationship need not have been definitively established." Id. § 201.57(c)(6)(i).
Ortho-McNeil argues that the portion of the regulation in effect at the time of Schedin's injury would not have allowed comparative representations. The relevant regulation defines an adverse reaction as "an undesirable effect, reasonably associated with the use of the drug, that may occur as part of the pharmacological action of the drug or may be unpredictable in its occurrence." Id. § 201.57(g) (2005). The regulation goes on to state that "[a]ny claim comparing the drug to which the labeling applies with other drugs in terms of frequency, severity, or character of adverse reactions shall be based on adequate and well-controlled studies ... unless this requirement is waived...." Id. § 201.57(g)(4). As a result, Ortho-McNeil argues the impossibility of a well-controlled comparative study rendered it unable to alter Levaquin's label, pre-empting any duty to provide comparative warnings.
However, in Wyeth and Mensing, the Supreme Court held that pre-emption only applies to brand-name manufacturers like Ortho-McNeil if there exists "clear evidence that the FDA would not have approved a change to [the drug's] label...." Wyeth, 129 S.Ct. at 1198; Mensing, 131 S.Ct. at 2581 n. 8. As this Court has previously noted:
Schedin, 776 F.Supp.2d at 913-14 (internal citations omitted).
As discussed above in regard to the Mensing Court's articulation of the "clear evidence" standard, the Court finds that Ortho-McNeil has failed to show clear evidence that the FDA would have rejected a proposed label change under these circumstances so as to relieve it from state law liability. Ortho-McNeil has provided no evidence that it applied for a waiver from the well-controlled studies requirement and, as such, the requirements of the "demanding defense" of impossibility pre-emption have not been met. See Wyeth,
Ortho-McNeil renews its argument that Schedin's punitive damages claim is preempted by the fraud on the FDA doctrine as outlined in Buckman Co. v. Plaintiffs' Legal Committee, 531 U.S. 341, 121 S.Ct. 1012, 148 L.Ed.2d 854 (2001). The Buckman Court held that "the federal statutory scheme amply empowers the FDA to punish and deter fraud against the Administration, and that this authority is used by the Administration to achieve a somewhat delicate balance of statutory objectives." Id. at 348, 121 S.Ct. 1012. Since policing fraud against federal agencies is not a traditional state function, such claims are pre-empted. Id. Ortho-McNeil argues that since Schedin's punitive damages claim rests on a finding that Ortho-McNeil intentionally manipulated the Ingenix study to thwart regulatory action, the claim is one of fraud on the FDA, and thus is pre-empted under Buckman.
However, the punitive damages claim, as noted in the Court's previous Order, does not hinge on a defrauding of the FDA. Schedin, 776 F.Supp.2d at 915-16. As the Eighth Circuit has recently affirmed, the predicate for Buckman pre-emption is that a claim focuses on harm perpetrated against the FDA as opposed to consumers. Lefaivre v. KV Pharm. Co., 636 F.3d 935, 944 (8th Cir.2011) (addressing adulterated drugs that did not meet current good manufacturing processes). Here the punitive damages claim is based on harm that was visited upon consumers—namely the failure to warn them of the tendon toxicity of Levaquin—in part through alleged manipulation of the Ingenix study. "[S]imply because [that] conduct violates the [Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act ("FDCA") ] does not mean a statelaw claim based on that same conduct depends on the FDCA's existence[,]" warranting pre-emption. Id. (internal quotation marks omitted).
Furthermore, Schedin's punitive damages claim was based on more than just Ortho-McNeil's alleged manipulation of the Ingenix study. As such, even if pre-emption applied to one theory of the claim, it would not foreclose punitive damages on other alleged bases. (See Punitive Damages Order, Docket No. 119 ("From Schedin's evidence, ... a jury could reasonably infer that defendants: had knowledge of or intentionally disregarded medical research regarding Levaquin's tendency to cause tendon injuries, particularly in seniors using corticosteroids; sought to prevent European regulatory action regarding levofloxacin's risks that would negatively impact the drug's reputation; manipulated the Ingenix Study to produce a commercially favorable result; failed to adequately warn Schedin and his doctor of dangers, despite knowing the particular risks of tendon injury Levaquin posed to seniors using corticosteroids, and the higher risk posed by Levaquin as compared to other fluoroquinolones; affirmatively misrepresented Levaquin's safety profile through its marketing campaign and other means.").) As a result, the Court denies Ortho-McNeil's motion for judgment as a matter of law.
Based on the foregoing, and the records, files, and proceedings herein,
1. Defendant's Motion for a New Trial [Docket No. 224] is
2. Defendant's Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law Renewed Motion [Docket No. 219] is
(Jury Instructions at 15, Docket No. 176.)
(Jury Instructions at 16, Docket No. 176.)
(Jury Instructions at 14, Docket No. 176.)
