Commonwealth v. Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

52 A.3d 498, 2012 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 220
CourtCommonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedJuly 26, 2012
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 52 A.3d 498 (Commonwealth v. Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 52 A.3d 498, 2012 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 220 (Pa. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

OPINION BY

Judge SIMPSON.

I. Introduction

This appeal involves a civil suit by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania against the manufacturer of a drug, Risperdal, the cost of which is reimbursed through several Commonwealth agencies. The Commonwealth’s theory of recovery at trial was that the drug manufacturer, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Janssen), fraudulently withheld information regarding the safety and efficacy of the drug, thereby misleading those paying for the drug into believing it had a high intrinsic value that justified its price premium over generic alternative drugs. The Commonwealth sought to recover the difference in price between the amount it reimbursed for Risperdal and the drug’s [502]*502true value, which it asserts was about the price of a generic alternative drug.

The Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County (trial court) entered orders that dismissed the Commonwealth’s suit and denied post-trial relief. The Commonwealth challenges these orders on appeal, raising numerous issues. Upon review, we affirm.

II. Factual and Procedural History

In 2007, the Commonwealth filed suit against three pharmaceutical companies, Janssen, Eli Lilly & Company, Inc., and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, L.P. The Commonwealth claimed it was seeking to recover, among other things, expenses incurred for reimbursing pharmacies for the purchase' of Risperdal and other antipsy-chotic drugs manufactured by these defendants. At.that time, the Commonwealth alleged the defendant pharmaceutical companies promoted their respective antipsy-chotic drugs for non-medically accepted and non-medically necessary (off-label) uses. The Commonwealth also asserted the defendant pharmaceutical companies misrepresented the risks associated with these medicines.

The defendant pharmaceutical companies filed preliminary objections seeking to, among other things, sever the actions. In December, 2007, the trial court severed the claims and directed the Commonwealth to file separate complaints against each of the defendant pharmaceutical companies.

Relevant here, in eariy-2008, the Commonwealth filed a six-count complaint against Janssen, alleging in Count I— Submission of False & Fraudulent Claims Under Medicaid Program; Count II— Submission of False & Fraudulent Claims Under Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) Program; Count III — Negligence; Count IV — Fraud and Misrepresentation; Count V — Misrepresentation Under Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402B; and, Count VI — Unjust Enrichment.

In January 2010, the Honorable How-land W. Abramson granted, in part, Janssen’s motion for judgment on the pleadings, thereby dismissing the Commonwealth’s civil action seeking double damages under the Medicaid fraud statute.

In April 2010, Janssen filed a motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal of the Commonwealth’s common law fraud and misrepresentation and unjust enrichment claims. The next day,' the Commonwealth filed a motion for leave to file an amended complaint, which the trial court granted. The Commonwealth filed its first amended complaint on May 17, 2010, alleging claims for fraud and misrepresentation and unjust enrichment against Janssen. Janssen filed preliminary objections.

Ultimately, the case proceeded to trial in late May 2010. After jury selection, the trial court held oral argument on Janssen’s motion for summary judgment on the Commonwealth’s initial complaint, Jans-sen’s preliminary objections to the first amended complaint, and multiple motions in limine filed by the parties.

After opening statements on June 3, 2010, the Commonwealth presented its evidence over the course of one week of jury trial. The Commonwealth rested on June 10, 2010. Shortly thereafter, Janssen made an oral motion for compulsory non-suit, and the parties submitted written memoranda.

On June 14, 2010, the trial court heard oral argument on Janssen’s motion for compulsory nonsuit. Shortly thereafter, the trial court, through the Honorable Frederica A. Massiah-Jackson, granted Janssen’s motion for nonsuit. About 10 days later, Judge Massiah-Jackson issued [503]*503a written decision explaining her ruling in more detail.

Several months later, Judge Massiah-Jackson issued a written decision denying the Commonwealth’s request to remove the compulsory nonsuit and denying the Commonwealth’s motion for post-trial relief. The Commonwealth filed a notice of appeal to this Court, and the trial court directed the Commonwealth to file a statement of matters complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 1925(b), which it did. Judges Abramson and Massiah-Jack-son subsequently filed opinions pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 1925(a), further explaining the bases for their respective decisions.

With regard to his dismissal of the Commonwealth’s statutory Medicaid fraud claims, Judge Abramson explained that, because Janssen was not a “provider” as defined by the pertinent statutory provision, it could not be the subject of a civil suit under the statute.

As to the Commonwealth’s common law fraud and misrepresentation claims, in its opinion denying the Commonwealth’s motion for post-trial relief, the trial court initially explained the Commonwealth waived issues that it briefed, but did not state in its motion for post-trial relief.

As to the merits of the Commonwealth’s fraud and misrepresentation claims, the trial court determined the Commonwealth did not carry its burden of proving justifiable reliance and causation by clear and convincing evidence.1

Specifically, as to justifiable reliance, the trial court rejected the Commonwealth’s claim that because a confidential relationship existed between the parties, it did not need to prove reliance. The trial court determined the Commonwealth and Jans-sen were sophisticated business entities, and it distinguished the cases upon which the Commonwealth relied. The trial court also rejected the Commonwealth’s alternate theory of “fraud on the market” as inapplicable to the current situation.2 Having concluded the Commonwealth was not excused from proving reliance, it determined that it did not prove that essential element.

Regarding causation, the trial court held the Commonwealth did not present evidence that in the absence of Janssen’s conduct any physicians in Pennsylvania would have altered their prescription habits. The trial court discussed the Learned Intermediary Doctrine.3

[504]*504Additionally, the trial court discussed the Commonwealth’s claim for damages. More particularly, at trial, the Commonwealth proceeded without a damage expert, although it claimed losses greatly in excess of $100 million. The trial court determined the magnitude and complexity of the case was beyond the experience and understanding of an average juror; therefore, expert testimony was needed to calculate damages. The trial court also determined the magnitude and complexity of the case required that Janssen be provided with an accurate written expert report covering damages, and that Janssen was prejudiced by this lapse. The trial court discussed the fluctuating amounts of damage estimates mentioned during trial.

Further, the trial court explained its decision to grant nonsuit as to the Commonwealth’s claim for unjust enrichment.

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Bluebook (online)
52 A.3d 498, 2012 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 220, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-ortho-mcneil-janssen-pharmaceuticals-inc-pacommwct-2012.