Barbara Mitchell and Gregory Mitchell v. Collagen Corporation

67 F.3d 1268
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
DecidedNovember 22, 1995
Docket94-3946
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 67 F.3d 1268 (Barbara Mitchell and Gregory Mitchell v. Collagen Corporation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Barbara Mitchell and Gregory Mitchell v. Collagen Corporation, 67 F.3d 1268 (7th Cir. 1995).

Opinion

RIPPLE, Circuit Judge.

In this case, Barbara and Gregory Mitchell appeal the district court’s decision denying them leave to amend their complaint and *1272 dismissing their state law claims on the ground that they were all preempted by the Medical Device Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360c-3601. For the reasons that follow, although we conclude that some state law claims are not preempted by the MDA, we affirm the judgment of the district court.

I

BACKGROUND

A. Facts

In 1988, Barbara Mitchell received several injections of Zyderm or Zyplast (collectively, “Zyderm”), collagen-based products produced by Collagen Corporation. These products are used to correct skin tissue anomalies such as wrinkles. Under the Medical Device Amendments, 21 U.S.C. § 360c-3601 (MDA), to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 301-395, Zyderm is classified as a “Class III medical device.” Class III devices must be approved by the FDA before they may be sold to the public. 21 U.S.C. § 360e(a)(l)(C).

The premarket approval (“PMA”) process is used to determine “the safety and effectiveness” of a device with respect to its intended users under the conditions “prescribed, recommended, or suggested” in its labeling. 21 U.S.C. § 360c(a)(2). As part of the PMA process, a manufacturer must submit samples of the device, an outline of the device’s components and properties, a description of the manufacturing process, safety data, a bibliography of all reports concerning the device’s safety and effectiveness, copies of all proposed labeling, and any other information the FDA requests. 21 U.S.C. § 360e(e); see also 21 C.F.R. § 814.20. The application is referred to a panel of qualified experts for study and submission of a report and recommendation respecting approval. 21 U.S.C. § 360e(c)(2); see id. § 360c(b)(2) (describing composition of panels). The FDA retains the right to withdraw its approval if it finds that a device previously approved is not safe and effective. 21 U.S.C. § 360e(e).

Zyderm’s PMA initially was approved in 1981. The FDA approved the PMA for Zy-plast, a derivative of Zyderm, in 1985. During 1991-1992, the FDA conducted a re-review of Zyderm and concluded in early 1992 that its PMA approval decision was appropriate.

B. Earlier Proceedings

Following her injections, Barbara Mitchell developed serious medical complications. In 1993, she and her husband filed suit against Collagen in Indiana state court. Their complaint included counts sounding in strict liability, negligence, fraud, mislabeling, mis-branding, adulteration, and breach of warranty. Collagen removed the case to federal court. The Mitchells moved to amend their complaint to add a claim under Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act; Collagen filed for summary judgment on the ground that the Mitchells’ claims were preempted by federal law.

The district court denied the Mitchells’ motion for leave to amend. 870 F.Supp. 885, 887-89 (N.D.Ind.1994). The court reasoned that amendment would be futile because the Mitchells’ claim would be time-barred under the applicable limitations period. The district court further held that the Mitchells’ claim was not saved by their allegation that Collagen had concealed fraudulently their claims. The court reasoned that, even if the Mitchells could rely upon a claim of fraudulent concealment to toll the applicable limitations period, such tolling would occur for only a “reasonable time.” The court found the Mitchells’ delay in filing suit unreasonable. It noted that the Mitchells knew that Zyderm was related to Barbara Mitchell’s injuries since at least 1991 and that they had delayed thirteen months between the time they acquired this information and the time they first filed suit against Collagen, and an additional twelve months before they sought to add the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act claim.

Next, the court determined that the Mitch-ells’ remaining state law claims were preempted. 870 F.Supp. at 889-98. The court focused upon the MDA’s preemption provision, which expressly proscribes states from establishing “any requirement ... dif *1273 ferent from, or in addition to,” the requirements established pursuant to the MDA. See 21 U.S.C. § SGOkCa). 1 Regulations promulgated by the FDA explain that the state “requirements” preempted under section 360k(a) include those “established by statute, ordinance, regulation or court decision.” 21 C.F.R. § 808.1(b). Relying upon the statutory preemption provision, the court reasoned that Congress intended the MDA amendments to have a broad preemptive effect— one that encompassed common law causes of action. It further reasoned that, in the case of Class III devices, the detailed premarket approval procedures constituted applicable federal requirements that preempted all state laws that established standards “different from, or in addition to,” the federal mandates. To the extent that the FDA’s regulations, such as 21 C.F.R. § 808.1(d), 2 suggested that the MDA amendments preempted only those state laws directed specifically at medical devices, the district court continued, they were inconsistent with congressional intent and entitled to no deference.

II

DISCUSSION

There are two basic issues on appeal. First, we must determine whether the district court erred in denying the Mitchells leave to amend their complaint. We review the district court’s decision for abuse of discretion. Cleveland v. Porca Co., 38 F.3d 289, 297 (7th Cir.1994). Second, we must consider whether the district court properly granted Collagen summary judgment on the ground that the Mitchells’ remaining state law claims were preempted. We review the district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Green v. Shalala, 51 F.3d 96, 99 (7th Cir.1995). Summary judgment is appropriate when there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id.; see generally Doe v. R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co., 42 F.3d 439, 443-44 (7th Cir.1994).

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