AngioDynamics, Inc. v. C.R. Bard, Inc.

District Court, N.D. New York·Decided September 19, 2022·No. 1:17-cv-00598·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

ANGIODYNAMICS, INC.,

Plaintiff, 1:17-cv-598 (BKS/CFH)

v.

C.R. BARD, INC. and BARD ACCESS SYSTEMS, INC.,

Defendants.

Appearances: For Plaintiff: Philip J. Iovieno Helen M. Maher Amanda L. Devereux Kristen J. McAhren Mark A. Singer Justin Arborn Sean F. O’Shea Michael E. Petrella Audrey S. Curtis Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP 200 Liberty Street New York, NY 10281 For Defendants: Andrew J. Frackman Mark Racanelli Pamela A. Miller O’Melveny & Myers LLP 7 Times Square New York, NY 10036 Sergei Zaslavsky Emily Murphy O’Melveny & Myers LLP 1625 Eye Street, NW Washington, DC 20006

Robert A. Atkins Jacqueline P. Rubin William B. Michael Daniel A. Crane Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP 1285 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10019

James P. Nonkes Harris Beach PLLC 99 Garnsey Road Pittsford, NY 14534

Hon. Brenda K. Sannes, Chief United States District Judge: MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER I. INTRODUCTION Plaintiff AngioDynamics, Inc. brings this antitrust action against Defendants C.R. Bard, Inc. and Bard Access Systems, Inc. (collectively, “Bard”), asserting a claim of illegal tying in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act (codified at 15 U.S.C. § 1) under “per se” and “rule of reason” theories of liability. (Dkt. No. 1); see AngioDynamics, Inc. v. C.R. Bard, Inc., 537 F. Supp. 3d 273 (N.D.N.Y. 2021) (summary judgment decision); AngioDynamics, Inc. v. C.R. Bard, Inc., No. 17-cv-598, 2022 WL 2643583, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 120384 (N.D.N.Y. July 8, 2022) (motions in limine decision). The case is set for trial to begin on September 19, 2022. In this decision, the Court considers AngioDynamics’s proffer of evidence of lost sales relating to customer statements which it seeks to introduce under Federal Rule of Evidence 803(3). (See Dkt. Nos. 400, 402, 419, 424, 427). II. BACKGROUND AngioDynamics seeks to introduce certain hearsay statements of customers under the exception in Federal Rule of Evidence 803(3), under which “‘statements of a customer as to his reasons for not dealing with a supplier are admissible for the limited purpose’ of demonstrating the customer’s motive, ‘although not as evidence of the facts recited as furnishing the motives.’” AngioDynamics, 537 F. Supp. 3d at 319 (quoting Herman Schwabe, Inc. v. United Shoe Machinery Corp., 297 F.2d 906, 914 (2d Cir. 1962)) (brackets omitted). The Court directed AngioDynamics to make a pretrial proffer of lost sales from the relevant entities “as part of laying the foundation for the admission of such statements.” AngioDynamics, 2022 WL

2643583, at *13 n.16, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 120384, at *39 n.16; see also, e.g., Discover Fin. Servs. v. Visa U.S.A. Inc., No. 04-cv-7844, 2008 WL 4560707, at *1, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 80801, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 9, 2008) (“[T]estimony concerning the motivation of customers for ceasing to deal with a business is admissible under the ‘state of mind’ exception to the hearsay rule, provided that there is otherwise admissible proof that business was lost.” (internal citation omitted)); Celebrity Cruises Inc. v. Essef Corp., 478 F. Supp. 2d 440, 447 (S.D.N.Y. 2007) (finding testimony regarding customer motivations admissible under the state of mind exception “provided that there is otherwise admissible proof that business was lost”). AngioDynamics submitted an original proffer of lost sales, (Dkt. No. 400), to which Bard responded, (Dkt. No. 402). Presently before the Court is AngioDynamics’s revised proffer which

includes greater detail for each entity, (Dkt. No. 419); a subsequent submission identifying the Rule 803(3) statements at issue for each entity, (Dkt. No. 424); and Bard’s response, (Dkt. No. 427). III. DISCUSSION AngioDynamics has made a proffer of lost sales and identified Rule 803(3) statements for 32 different entities.1 The Court addresses certain overarching issues before proceeding to consider specific entities.

1 AngioDynamics’s original proffer (Dkt. No. 400) included a total of 37 entities. AngioDynamics now represents that it “does not intend to present testimony related to lost sales” at five of those original entities. (Dkt. No. 419, at 3, 6, 8, 9; Dkt. No. 424, at 17). A. Sales Data AngioDynamics’s supplemental proffer (Dkt. No. 419) cites to Exhibits D-230 (AngioDynamics sales data) and D-390 (Bard sales data). Both D-230 and D-390 are large spreadsheets and, due to their nature, the Court is unable to assess the representations AngioDynamics makes regarding what these exhibits show. Moreover, there is a dispute about

how AngioDynamics derived the figures it cites to the Court and whether they constitute undisclosed expert opinions. (See Dkt. No. 424, at 1 n.1; Dkt. No. 427, at 1 n.1). The Court therefore does not consider the representations AngioDynamics has made regarding what D-230 and D-390 show in considering the sufficiency of its proffer. B. Scott Centea Testimony2 AngioDynamics seeks to elicit live testimony from Scott Centea, AngioDynamics’s Senior Director of Global Marketing. AngioDynamics, 537 F. Supp. 3d at 295. Mr. Centea was deposed both as a corporate representative of AngioDynamics under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(b)(6) and in his individual capacity under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(b)(1). (Dkt. No. 424-2; Dkt. No. 424-3). AngioDynamics argues that Mr. Centea “may . . .

testify at trial as to the corporation’s collective knowledge consistent with his preparation on the noticed 30(b)(6) deposition topics, which included lost sales.” (Dkt. No. 419, at 1–2). Bard argues that Mr. Centea can only testify at trial based on his personal knowledge. (Dkt. No. 427, at 2–4). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(b)(6) allows for deposition testimony from a corporate representative on topics outside the representative’s personal knowledge but within the

2 The Court notes the AngioDynamics has repeatedly asserted that it has “additional non-hearsay relevant evidence regarding an inquiry concerning the availability of Bard’ standalone stylet,” relying on Mr. Centea’s testimony that he had conversations with individuals who indicated that they had made such inquiries of Bard. (E.g., Dkt. No. 424, at 3 n.3; Dkt. No. 419, at 6). While the inquiry of Bard is not hearsay, AngioDynamics fails to account for the layer of hearsay arising when a particular individual tells Mr. Centea about that inquiry. corporation’s collective knowledge. See Brazos River Auth. v. GE Ionics, Inc., 469 F.3d 416, 433 (5th Cir. 2006) (citations omitted). While Federal Rule of Evidence 602 generally limits a witness’s trial testimony to matters within that witness’s personal knowledge, an adverse party may use another party’s Rule 30(b)(6) deposition testimony for “any purpose.” Fed. R. Civ. P.

32(a)(3); see also Union Pump Co. v. Centrifugal Tech. Inc., 404 F. App’x 899, 907 (5th Cir.

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