HERNDON, Chief Judge.
The above referenced diversity case is before the Court on the defendant's, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("BIPI"), motion to dismiss the plaintiff's claims for failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). For the reasons set forth below, the motion is
The above referenced case involves PRADAXA ("Pradaxa"), a prescription pharmaceutical indicated for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism (blood clots) in patients with abnormal
On May 31, 2012, plaintiff Vera Sellers filed a motion for transfer of actions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 ("MDL Motion"). See Id. The MDL Motion requests centralization and consolidation of the Pradaxa Product Liability Cases before a single federal district court. Id. Plaintiff Sellers' proposed forum is the Southern District of Illinois. Id. On May 30, 2012, five of the entities named as defendants in the Pradaxa Product Liability Cases filed a response to the MDL Motion. See MDL No. 2385, In re Pradaxa Prod. Liab. Litig. MDL No. 2385, In re Pradaxa Prod. Liab. Litig. Doc. 54. The responsive pleading states that these defendants are not opposed to consolidation but are opposed plaintiff Sellers' proposed forum. Id. These defendants propose consolidation in the District of Connecticut or, alternatively, the Eastern District of Tennessee or Eastern District of Kentucky. Id. The Judicial Penal on Multidistrict Litigation
The pendency of a motion for consolidation "does not affect or suspend orders and pretrial proceedings in any pending federal district court action and does not limit the pretrial jurisdiction of that court." J.P.M.L. Rule 2.1(d). Further, this Court recently concluded that a stay of pretrial proceedings is not warranted in the Pradaxa Product Liability Cases pending in this Court. Accordingly, the Court proceeds with the subject motion to dismiss.
When the court acts on a defendant's motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), the court accepts as true all well-pled factual allegations and draws all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor. See Rujawitz v. Martin, 561 F.3d 685, 688 (7th Cir.2009); St. John's United Church of Christ v. City of Chicago, 502 F.3d 616, 625 (7th Cir.2007), cert. denied, 553 U.S. 1032, 128 S.Ct. 2431, 171 L.Ed.2d 230 (2008). Generally, the Court's analysis is limited to factual allegations contained in the complaint and the complaint's exhibits. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(d) (documents outside the complaint may not be considered without converting the motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment).
There are, however, two exceptions to this general rule: First, a district court may "take judicial notice of matters of public record without converting a motion for failure to state a claim into a motion for summary judgment." Gen. Elec. Capital Corp. v. Lease Resolution Corp., 128 F.3d 1074, 1080 (7th Cir.1997). Second, a court may consider "documents attached to a motion to dismiss * * * if they are referred to in the plaintiff's complaint and are central to his claim." Brownmark Films, LLC v. Comedy Partners, 682 F.3d 687, 690 (7th Cir.2012) (internal quotation omitted).
With the exception of the text of the warning that has always accompanied Pradaxa, the facts below are taken from the plaintiff's complaint, which at this point in the litigation the Court presumes to be true. Additionally, the Court considers the text of the warning that has always been included in Pradaxa's labeling and prescribing information. Although the exact language of the subject warning is not included in the plaintiff's complaint, it may be considered by the Court without converting BIPI's motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment pursuant to either of the exceptions described above.
In May 2011, the plaintiff's physician prescribed the prescription drug Pradaxa for treatment of the plaintiff's medically necessary blood thinning needs. Doc. 2 at ¶ 41. Pradaxa is a member of a class of anticoagulants known as direct thrombin inhibitors and is indicated to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (patients with atrial fibrillation have an increased risk of stroke). Id. at ¶ 11. Shortly after being prescribed Pradaxa, on or about July 7, 2011, the plaintiff suffered a severe gastrointestinal bleed causing her to be hospitalized for 5 days in St. Mary's
The plaintiff contends, inter alia, that despite being aware of certain safety risks associated with use of Pradaxa, BIPI failed to adequately warn or disclose information about such risks to the medical community and consumers.
The alleged inadequacies and affirmative misrepresentations were reportedly included in the Pradaxa Marketing Campaign and in Pradaxa's labeling and prescribing information. See Id. at ¶¶ 14-26. Both plaintiff and her prescribing physician allegedly relied on information disseminated by BIPI via the Pradaxa Marketing Campaign and/or the information published in Pradaxa's labeling and prescribing information. See e.g., Id. at ¶¶ 19, 20, 40, 44, 79. As to the plaintiff's prescribing physician, the decision to prescribe Pradaxa was based on information published in Pradaxa's labeling and prescribing materials, information published in Pradaxa's marketing materials, and information provided by BIPI sales representatives. Id. at ¶¶ 20, 79.
A more detailed review of the plaintiff's assertions regarding the Pradaxa Marketing Campaign and Pradaxa's labeling and prescribing information is included below.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") approved Pradaxa for use in the United States on October 19, 2010. Id. ¶ 12. In 2010 and 2011 BIPI marketed and promoted Pradaxa ("Pradaxa Marketing Campaign"). Id. at ¶¶ 17-19. BIPI's marketing efforts included, inter alia, "detailing sessions" (marketing/sales visits by BIPI representatives) with primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals. Id. at ¶ 16. It also included direct to consumer advertisements. Id. at 17. The Pradaxa Marketing Campaign allegedly overstated the effectiveness and benefits of Pradaxa. Id. at ¶¶ 18, 20-22. Specifically, the plaintiff alleges, the marketing campaign overstated the efficacy of Pradaxa with respect to preventing stroke and systemic embolism. See e.g., Id. at ¶ 18. The plaintiff also contends the Pradaxa marketing campaign improperly promoted Pradaxa as being more effective and convenient than the prescription anticoagulant Warfarin.
Like Pradaxa, Warfarin is a prescription anticoagulant indicated for reducing the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. Id. at ¶ 13. Patients taking Warfarin must follow dietary restrictions and regularly monitor their blood levels to determine whether their dosage should be adjusted. Id. Patients taking Pradaxa, on the other hand, are not under any dietary restrictions and do not have to undergo regular blood testing. Id.
An additional difference between Pradaxa and Warfarin is the availability of a reversal agent or protocol for the drugs' anticoagulation effects. Id. at ¶ 21. With regard to Warfarin, there is an established protocol for treating and stabilizing patients who experience a serious bleeding event while taking the drug. As to Pradaxa, there is no effective means for reversing the anticoagulation effects of the drug in patients who experience a serious bleeding event. Id. at ¶¶ 21, 23, 24. Therefore, there is no effective means to treat and stabilize patients who experience a serious bleeding event while taking Pradaxa. Id. at ¶¶ 18, 20, 21.
The plaintiff alleges that the Pradaxa Marketing Campaign failed to disclose information regarding the lack of a reversal agent or protocol for reversing the anticoagulation effects of Pradaxa. Id. The plaintiff also alleges that the Pradaxa Marketing Campaign failed to adequately disclose
The "Warnings Section" in Pradaxa's labeling and prescribing information has always included the following warning:
The plaintiff asserts Pradaxa's "original"
Id. at ¶ 26.
In March 2011, BIPI modified Pradaxa's labeling and prescribing information. Id. at ¶ 27. The next modification to Pradaxa's labeling and prescribing information occurred in November 2011 (after the plaintiff was prescribed Pradaxa and after the plaintiff's alleged injury).
The March 2011 modification provided additional information regarding the use of Pradaxa in patients taking certain medications. The text of the Warnings Section (provided above) remained the same. Further, the plaintiff contends Pradaxa's March 2011 labeling and prescribing information suffered from the same deficiencies as Pradaxa's original labeling and prescribing information. Id. at ¶ 27.
A 12(b)(6) motion challenges the sufficiency of the complaint to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Hallinan v. Fraternal Order of Police of Chicago Lodge 7, 570 F.3d 811, 820 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S.Ct. 749, 175 L.Ed.2d 517 (2009). The United States Supreme Court explained in Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007), that Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal is warranted if the complaint fails to set forth "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face."
In making this assessment, the district court accepts as true all well-pled factual allegations and draws all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor. See Rujawitz v. Martin, 561 F.3d 685, 688 (7th Cir. 2009); St. John's United Church of Christ v. City of Chicago, 502 F.3d 616, 625 (7th Cir.2007), cert. denied, 553 U.S. 1032, 128 S.Ct. 2431, 171 L.Ed.2d 230 (2008).
Even though Twombly (and Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009)) retooled federal pleading standards, notice pleading remains all that is required in a complaint. "A plaintiff still must provide only `enough detail to give the defendant fair notice of what the claim is and the grounds upon which it rests and, through his allegations, show that it is plausible, rather than merely speculative, that he is entitled to relief.'" Tamayo v. Blagojevich, 526 F.3d 1074, 1083 (7th Cir.2008). The level of detail the complaint must furnish can differ depending on the type of case before the Court. So for instance, a complaint involving complex litigation (antitrust or RICO claims) may need a "fuller set of factual allegations... to show that relief is plausible." Tamayo, 526 F.3d at 1083, citing Limestone Dev. Corp. v. Village of Lemont, Illinois, 520 F.3d 797, 803-04 (7th Cir. 2008).
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has offered further direction on what (post Twombly & Iqbal) a complaint must do to withstand dismissal for failure to state a claim. In Pugh v. Tribune Co., 521 F.3d 686,
The plaintiff asserts the following claims: (1) Strict Liability-Failure to Warn, (2) Strict Liability-Design Defect, (3) Negligence, (4) Negligent Misrepresentation and/or Fraud, (5) Breach of Express Warranty, (6) Breach of Implied Warranty of Merchantability, (7) Negligence Per Se, (8) Fraudulent Concealment, and (9) an action under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act. The plaintiff also requests (10) Punitive Damages and Prejudgment Interest. Doc. 2, Counts I-X, ¶¶ 46-140.
BIPI contends that all of the plaintiff's claims and requests for damages, viewed in the context of applicable Illinois law, fail to satisfy the Iqbal/Twombly pleading standard and, where applicable, the heightened pleading standard under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9. Additionally, BIPI contends that any claims premised on the alleged failure to adequately warn of the risk of irreversible bleeding cannot proceed because Pradaxa has always included a warning regarding the risk of "serious and, sometimes, fatal bleeding." BIPI also raises arguments with respect to venue, the learned intermediary doctrine, and Comment K to the Restatement (Second) of Torts. Finally, BIPI raises various arguments that are specific to the plaintiff's claims for relief and for punitive damages/prejudgment interest.
The Court addresses the relevant issues accordingly below.
Pradaxa has always included a statement warning consumers and physicians about the risk of "serious and sometimes fatal bleeding." According to BIPI, the plaintiff's claims cannot stand because Pradaxa carried an explicit warning about the risk of potentially fatal bleeding. This argument
The mere fact that a product causes injury does not mean, in and of itself, that it was defective. Rather, Illinois has adopted comment k to the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A, which provides, in pertinent part, as follows:
Restatement (Second) of Torts, § 402A, comment k at 353-54 (1965). Although comment k specifically mentions drugs, not all drugs fall within the purview of comment k; rather, the application of comment k must be decided on a case-by-case basis. Glassman v. Wyeth Laboratories, Inc., 238 Ill.App.3d 533, 179 Ill.Dec. 506, 606 N.E.2d 338, 342 (1992). To come within the purview of comment k, a drug must be unavoidably unsafe, be properly prepared and have adequate warnings. Id.
The facts alleged in the complaint, taken as true at this point in the litigation, do not establish that Pradaxa was properly prepared or had adequate warnings. On the contrary, as discussed in the facts above, the plaintiff has alleged that Pradaxa's warnings were inadequate and that Pradaxa was improperly designed. Further, nothing in the complaint establishes that Pradaxa is an unavoidably unsafe product. Accordingly, at this point in the litigation, the Court cannot conclude that BIPI is entitled to Comment K immunity.
Illinois law does not require a prescription drug manufacturer to provide warnings to the ultimate user or consumer. Instead, under the "learned intermediary" doctrine, prescription drug manufacturers have a duty to warn physicians of any known dangers of their drug and the physicians, in turn, have a duty to convey warnings to patients. Kirk v. Michael Reese Hosp. and Medical Center, 117 Ill.2d 507, 111 Ill.Dec. 944, 513 N.E.2d 387, 393 (1987). If the warning provided by the manufacturer adequately explains the risks and side effects of the drug, the product is not unreasonably dangerous or defective as a matter of law. Id. Consequently, an adequate warning shields the manufacturer from liability if the patient suffers from those effects while taking the drug. Id.
BIPI claims the plaintiffs fraud based claims are actually "fraud-on-the-FDA" claims and are therefore preempted by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ("FDCA") under Buckman Co. v. Plaintiffs' Legal Committee, 531 U.S. 341, 121 S.Ct. 1012, 148 L.Ed.2d 854 (2001). In Buckman, the Supreme Court held that the FDCA preempts state law claims alleging that the defendant made fraudulent representations to the FDA to obtain approval for a drug or medical device and that, had the defendant not made those misrepresentations, the FDA would not have approved the drug or device and the plaintiff would not have been injured. 531 U.S. at 343-45, 121 S.Ct. 1012. The plaintiff's complaint makes no mention of such a claim. Instead, the plaintiff alleges that BIPI made misrepresentations and omissions of material fact to the plaintiff, the plaintiff's physicians, the healthcare industry, and the consuming public. Accordingly, the Court is not persuaded that the plaintiff's fraud based claims are preempted based on law pertaining to fraud on the FDA.
The plaintiff alleges that as a result of taking Pradaxa she suffered from a severe gastrointestinal bleed which required hospitalization. Doc. 2 ¶ 41. Pursuant to the complaint, the plaintiff suffered uncontrollable bleeding which was caused and/or worsened by Pradaxa. Id. BIPI contends that the plaintiff has not sufficiently pled factual allegations to allege a plausible claim for relief under Illinois law and has not "connected the dots" between the complaint's allegations and the alleged injury. Doc. 12 p. 9. As an example, BIPI argues that the alleged injury of "uncontrollable" bleeding cannot support any claim for relief because the plaintiff is not still bleeding. Id. In other words, because the plaintiff's treating physicians were eventually able to control her gastrointestinal bleed, she did not suffer from "uncontrollable" bleeding. BIPI's overly literal interpretation of the term "uncontrollable" is not well taken. A reasonable fact finder would not interpret "uncontrollable" in this context as without control until death ensues. Rather it is clear plaintiff has alleged sufficient inability to manage bleeding so as to cause injury. The Court finds that the alleged injury is sufficiently pled.
With regard to "connecting the dots," BIPI contends that the plaintiff's alleged injury is not sufficiently connected to Pradaxa's alleged defective conditions. Id. pp. 9-11. For instance, BIPI states that because the plaintiff does not expressly allege
The Court disagrees. The plaintiff alleges that she suffered from a gastrointestinal bleed and a subdural hematoma causing her to be hospitalized and treated in the intensive care unit. The plaintiff expressly alleges that had the plaintiff and/or the plaintiff's prescribing physician known about the defects alleged in the complaint, the plaintiff would not have used Pradaxa. Further, the plaintiff alleges that her injury was caused and/or worsened by Pradaxa's allegedly defective conditions and/or BIPI's failure to warn about Pradaxa's alleged dangers. These allegations plead a right to relief that is beyond the "speculative level" and is sufficient at this stage in the litigation.
To prevail under a theory of strict product liability under Illinois law, a plaintiff must prove: "[1] the injury resulted from a condition of the product, [2] that the condition was unreasonably dangerous, and [3] that the condition existed at the time the product left the manufacturer's control." Faucett v. Ingersoll-Rand Min. & Machinery Co., 960 F.2d 653, 655 (7th Cir.1992) (citation omitted). In a strict liability case based on a failure to warn in Illinois, the plaintiff must allege and prove that the defendant knew or should have known of the danger. Giles v. Wyeth, Inc., 556 F.3d 596, 600 (7th Cir.2009) (quoting Smith v. Eli Lilly & Co., 137 Ill.2d 222, 148 Ill.Dec. 22, 560 N.E.2d 324, 344 (Ill.1990)).
A plaintiff may proceed under two separate theories to prove that a product is "unreasonably dangerous": (1) existence of a design or manufacturing defect or (2) failure of the manufacturer to adequately warn consumers of the product's dangers. Lamkin v. Towner, 138 Ill.2d 510, 150 Ill.Dec. 562, 563 N.E.2d 449 (1990). In the instant case, the plaintiff is claiming that Pradaxa was unreasonably dangerous both because of a design defect and because of a failure to adequately warn of particular dangers.
Under a design defect theory, a plaintiff can either "(1) ... introduc[e] evidence that the product failed to perform as safely as an ordinary consumer would expect when used in an intended or reasonably foreseeable manner (known as the "consumer expectation" test) or (2) ... introduc[e] evidence that the product's design proximately caused his injury and the defendant fails to prove that on balance the benefits of the challenged design outweigh the risk of danger inherent in such designs." (known as the "risk-utility" test) Lamkin, 150 Ill.Dec. 562, 563 N.E.2d 449.
Under a failure to warn theory, a product that requires a warning can be considered defective at the time it left the seller if the warning is not adequate. Restatement (Second) of Torts, § 402A. If a product is considered unreasonably dangerous and that dangerousness is not generally known, then the seller "is required to give warning against it, if he has knowledge, or by the application of reasonable, developed human skill and foresight should have knowledge, of the presence of the ingredient and the danger." (Id. cmt. J.)
In the instant case, the plaintiff has alleged enough facts to state a plausible strict liability claim based on either a
The complaint states claims for fraud, fraudulent concealment, and statutory consumer fraud (under the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act or ICFA). The Court finds that the plaintiff's complaint states a plausible claim for relief under each of the above referenced theories of recovery.
BIPI contends that the allegations of fraud are not sufficiently particular under Rule 9(b) and that as a result the fraud claims fail to state plausible claims for relief under Rule 8. Specifically, BIPI contends that the complaint contains no allegations demonstrating "when, where, to whom, or how" the alleged misrepresentations were made. The Court disagrees.
The complaint pleads the "who," that is, Defendant Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Doc. 2 ¶¶ 2, 10. The complaint pleads the when — specifically, between October 19, 2010 (when the FDA approved Pradaxa for use in the United States) through August 2011 (when the plaintiff was prescribed Pradaxa and when the plaintiff's alleged injury occurred) and possibly until April 2012 (to the extent that the alleged facts establish knowledge of the alleged defects between October 19, 2010 and September 27, 2011). Id. at ¶¶ 12-45. The complaint also pleads the where-throughout the United States. Id. at ¶¶ 16, 27, 33, 36, 38. The complaint pleads "to whom" the representations and omissions were made. See e.g., Id. at ¶ 19 (the plaintiff); Id. at ¶ 20 (the plaintiff's prescribing physician); and Id. at ¶ 16 (U.S. primary care physicians, internists, group practitioners, cardiologists, and practice nurses). The complaint pleads how the representations were made. See e.g., Id. at ¶ 16 (detailing sessions); Id. at ¶¶ 17-18 (direct to consumer advertising); and Id. at ¶¶ 26-27 (labeling and prescribing information).
The Court further notes, as to the content of the alleged misrepresentations, the plaintiff alleges the Pradaxa Marketing Campaign, as well as Pradaxa's labeling and prescribing information, contained knowing misrepresentations or omissions regarding the safety and efficacy of Pradaxa, including the following: (1) Pradaxa's efficacy and safety in relation to the prescription anticoagulant Warfarin; (2) Pradaxa's additional benefits; (3) Pradaxa's allegedly higher risk of serious bleeding; (4) the lack of an effective reversal agent or protocol in the event of a serious bleeding event; (5) the difficulty or impossibility of assessing the level or extent of anticoagulation in patients using Pradaxa; and (6) the safety risks in certain patient populations. The plaintiff also
Considering the above allegations, the Court finds that the plaintiff has pled, with sufficient particularity, claims for fraud, fraudulent concealment, and statutory consumer fraud.
In Illinois, product liability cases asserting negligence fall under the standard of common law negligence. Calles v. Scripto-Tokai Corp., 224 Ill.2d 247, 309 Ill.Dec. 383, 864 N.E.2d 249, 263 (2007). The Plaintiff in this case must therefore allege "the existence of a duty of care owed by the defendant, a breach of that duty, an injury that was proximately caused by that breach, and damages." Id.
BIPI argues that the plaintiff's negligence claim is premised on failure to warn and fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted because the plaintiff attempts to place a duty on BIPI to directly warn the plaintiff and the "general public," when its only duty was to warn the prescribing physician. Doc. 12 pp. 13-14. The Court agrees that under the learned intermediary doctrine a prescription drug manufacturer does not have a duty to directly warn consumers about a drug's adverse risks. Thus, to the extent that the plaintiff's negligence claim asserts BIPI owed the plaintiff or the general public a duty to warn, it must fail. No such duty exists (this is so regardless of whether the learned intermediary doctrine will ultimately shield BIPI from liability for claims premised on a failure to warn in the instant case).
The learned intermediary doctrine, however, does not establish that BIPI, as a prescription drug manufacturer, owes no duty to users of Pradaxa. Under Illinois law, a manufacturer has a duty of due care to design and manufacture a product that will be reasonably safe for its intended use. See e.g., Calles v. Scripto-Tokai Corp., 224 Ill.2d 247, 309 Ill.Dec. 383, 864 N.E.2d 249, 263 (2007) (manufacturer's nondelegable duty to design reasonably safe products); Salerno v. Innovative Surveillance Technology, Inc., 402 Ill.App.3d 490, 342 Ill.Dec. 210, 932 N.E.2d 101, 111 (2010) (manufacturer has a nondelegable duty to design reasonably safe products); Cornstubble v. Ford Motor Co., 178 Ill.App.3d 20, 127 Ill.Dec. 55, 532 N.E.2d 884, 886 (1988) (duty to design and manufacture a product that is reasonably safe for its intended use).
Although, for claims premised on failure to warn, the learned intermediary doctrine limits the class of persons to whom the warning is required to be given, it does not abolish a prescription drug manufacturer's duty to design and manufacture a reasonably safe product. In other words, a prescription drug manufacturer owes a duty to design and manufacture a product that is reasonably safe for its intended use. This duty can be breached in a number of ways, some of which have nothing to do with failure to warn. To the extent that failure to warn is in issue, the manufacturer has a duty to warn only the prescribing physicians.
In the instant case, the plaintiff has adequately alleged the existence of a duty. See Doc. 2 ¶ 64 (alleging BIPI owed "a duty to the general public and specifically to [the plaintiff] to exercise reasonable care in the design, study, development,
For the reasons stated above, The Court concludes that the plaintiff has sufficiently stated a claim for common law negligence.
The plaintiff asserts claims for negligence per se. These claims reference alleged violations of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). BIPI contends that these claims are based on the FDCA and are barred because there is no private cause of action under the FDCA. The plaintiff responds arguing that the plaintiff's per se negligence claims are based on Illinois common law and that reference to the FDCA is merely the basis for the applicable standard of care.
Under Illinois law, "if a statute defines what is due care in some activity, the violation of the statute either conclusively or (in Illinois) presumptively establishes that the violator failed to exercise due care." Cuyler v. United States, 362 F.3d 949, 952 (7th Cir.2004). The statutory definition of due care, however, only comes into play if the defendant owes a duty of care to the injured party — in this case the plaintiff. Id. In the instant case, the plaintiff has alleged that, under Illinois common law, BIPI owed a duty of care to the plaintiff and that the FDCA provides the definition for the standard of care owed to the plaintiff. Accordingly, the fact that there is no private right of action under the FDCA does not warrant dismissal of the plaintiff's negligence per se claims. See e.g., Id.; Wigod v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 673 F.3d 547, 582 (7th Cir.2012).
Further, for reasons already discussed, the Court also finds that the plaintiff has asserted facts sufficient to support a plausible claim for relief under the theory of negligence per se.
With regard to the plaintiff's breach of express warranty claim, BIPI contends the plaintiff has failed to plead facts that could be construed as an express warranty or as reliance on an express warranty. The Court notes the following allegations in the plaintiff's complaint:
Existence of a Warranty
Reliance
In light of these allegations, the Court finds that the plaintiff has sufficiently alleged a claim for breach of express warranty.
To succeed on a breach of implied warranty of merchantability claim "a plaintiff must establish (1) a sale of goods, (2) that the seller of the goods is a merchant with respect to those goods, and (3) that the goods were not of merchantable quality." Maldonado v. Creative Woodworking Concepts, Inc., 342 Ill.App.3d 1028, 277 Ill.Dec. 576, 796 N.E.2d 662, 666 (2003). A product that is not of merchantable quality is one that is unfit for the ordinary purposes for which the goods are used. Maldonado, 277 Ill.Dec. 576, 796 N.E.2d at 666.
In addition to arguing that the breach of warranty claims are barred by the learned intermediary doctrine and comment K to the Restatement (Second) of Torts 402A (issues the Court has already addressed), BIPI contends that "there can be no claim" that Pradaxa "did not function in an otherwise merchantable manner." The Court disagrees. The plaintiff has alleged numerous deficiencies related to Pradaxa. In addition, the plaintiff has alleged that she was hospitalized due to excessive bleeding as a result of ingesting Pradaxa. These allegations go to the issue of merchantability and are sufficient for surviving BIPI's motion to dismiss.
BIPI asks the Court to strike the plaintiffs requests for punitive damages and prejudgment interest. The Court finds that a more fully developed record is necessary for determining whether these claims are appropriate in the instant case and denies the request to strike as premature.
BIPI seeks dismissal based on improper venue. Where, as here, jurisdiction is based solely on diversity, venue is determined in accordance with the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1391(a). Pursuant to this provision, such an action may be brought:
Id. In the instant case, the plaintiff has made the following allegations: (1) the events giving rise to the plaintiff's claims occurred in the Southern District of Illinois (Doc. 2 ¶ 9); (2) BIPI resides in this judicial district, id. ¶ 8; (3) at all relevant times the plaintiff was a resident and citizen of Salem Illinois located in Marion County, id. ¶ 1; and (4) shortly after being prescribed Pradaxa, the plaintiff suffered a severe gastrointestinal bleed, her excessive bleeding was worsened by Pradaxa, and her bleeding caused her to be hospitalized at St. Mary's Hospital. Id. ¶ 41.
For the reasons set forth above, BIPI's Motion to Dismiss is
