Culpepper v. Stryker Corp.

968 F. Supp. 2d 1144, 2013 WL 4852307, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130380
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Alabama
DecidedSeptember 12, 2013
DocketCase 2:12-cv-767-MEF
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 968 F. Supp. 2d 1144 (Culpepper v. Stryker Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Culpepper v. Stryker Corp., 968 F. Supp. 2d 1144, 2013 WL 4852307, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130380 (M.D. Ala. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

MARK E. FULLER, District Judge.

Now before the Court is a Notice of Removal (Doc. # 1) filed by Defendants Howmedica Osteonics Corporation (“Howmedica”),1 Stryker Sales Corporation (“Stryker Sales”), and Stryker Corporation (“Stryker”) (collectively, the “Corporate Defendants”) on September 4, 2012, and a Motion to Remand (Doc. # 15) filed by Plaintiff Elizabeth Culpepper (“Plaintiff” or “Culpepper”) on October 4, 2012. After careful consideration of the law, the evidence and arguments presented, and the record as a whole, the Court finds that Plaintiffs Motion to Remand is due to be DENIED.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

This is a product liability action. Culpepper underwent a left total knee arthroplasty (commonly referred to as a “knee replacement”) on November 6, 2009, at Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital (“JHMH”) in Phenix City, Alabama. (Doc. # 1-2.) Culpepper’s surgeon implanted a Stryker Triathlon Posteriorly Stabilized Total Knee Replacement System (“Triathlon”) in place of her left knee joint. (Doc. # 1-2.)

Culpepper suffered severe pain and discomfort following the surgery. (Doc. # 1-2.) As a result, on December 2, 2009, Culpepper underwent a revision surgery to remove and to replace a component of the Triathlon that had failed. (Doc. # 1-2.) On May 10, 2010, Culpepper underwent a second revision surgery during which the entire Triathlon implant was removed. (Doc. # 1-2.) Due to continuous pain, Cul[1148]*1148pepper underwent three more revision surgeries on June 25, 2010, March 9, 2012, and June 13, 2012. (Doc. # 1-2.) Culpepper alleges that she suffered and will continue to suffer physical pain and emotional distress as a result of these events. (Doc. # 1-2.)

In her Complaint, Culpepper alleges that Howmedica, Stryker Sales, and Stryker designed, tested, manufactured, marketed, distributed, and sold the Triathlon, despite its known and serious side effects.2 (Docs.# 1-2, 15-1.) Culpepper further alleges that Brennan Blackmon (“Blackmon”) is a Stryker sales representative who marketed, distributed, and sold the Triathlon in greater Birmingham, Alabama (which does not include Phenix City, Alabama, where JHMH is located), and who is believed to have met and visited with hospitals in Alabama, including JHMH, to engage in these activities. (Docs. # 1-2, 15-1.) Culpepper claims that Defendants knew of the “defective and unreasonably dangerous nature of the Triathlon” but concealed and suppressed these facts from hospitals, physicians, and the consuming public, including Culpepper and her physician. (Doc. # 1-2.) Culpepper, however, makes no specific allegations as to the particular facts Defendants are alleged to have misrepresented, concealed or suppressed from Culpepper, JHMH, or Culpepper’s physicians regarding the implant used in her knee replacement surgery. (Doc. # 1-2.) Culpepper also fails to allege when these misrepresentations or concealments were made, which specific Defendant made which specific misrepresentations or concealed which specific fact, and specifically to whom Defendants made these misrepresentations or from whom Defendants concealed information regarding the Culpepper’s implant. (Doc. # 1-2.)

On June 26, 2012, Culpepper filed suit in the Circuit Court of Bullock County, Alabama, asserting various claims against Howmedica, Stryker, Stryker Sales, and Blackmon. (Doc. # 1-2.) In her Complaint, Culpepper brings claims against Defendants under Alabama’s Extended Manufacturer’s Liability Doctrine for strict product liability (specifically, for defective design, manufacturing defect, and failure to warn), as well as additional claims for negligence, breach of express and implied warranties, fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment; and deceptive trade practices. (Doc. # 1-2.) Also, apparently anticipating a statute of limitations argument, Culpepper alleges that any applicable statute of limitations has been tolled by knowing and active concealment and denial of facts by Defendants; yet, Culpepper provides no specific facts to support these allegations. (Doc. # 1-2.)

As to the jurisdiction, Culpepper alleges that she was a resident of Bullock County, Alabama, while Stryker and Stryker Sales are organized in New Jersey and have their principal places of business in Michigan,3 making them citizens of both New [1149]*1149Jersey and Michigan. (Doc. # 1-2); see also 28 U.S.C, § 1332(c)(1). Howmedica was organized in New Jersey with its principal place of business in New Jersey, making it a citizen of New Jersey. (Doc. # 1-2.) Finally, Blackmon lives and does business in Alabama,4 making him a citizen of Alabama.5 (Doc. # 1-2.)

On September 4, 2012, Howmedica, Stryker, and Stryker Sales6 removed this cause of action to federal district court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332 (diversity of citizenship). (Doc. # 1.) The Corporate Defendants claim that this matter was properly removed because complete diversity of citizenship exists, as no defendant is a citizen of the same state as Culpepper. In making this argument, the Corporate Defendants claim that Blackmon’s citizenship should be disregarded because he was fraudulently joined solely to defeat diversity. (Doc. # 1.) More specifically, the Corporate Defendants argue that there is no possibility that Culpepper can establish a cause of action against Blackmon in state court, thus making his joinder fraudulent. The Corporate Defendants base this argument on their claims that Blackmon had no involvement with Culpepper’s procedures or the device implanted in her, and even if he had, any claim Culpepper may have against Blackmon is time-barred. (Doc. # 1.) With their Notice of Removal, the Corporate Defendants submitted Blackmon’s sworn Affidavit in which he testifies that: (1) he has been an independent contractor with K & W Associates, Inc. (“K & W”) since 2003 and was not employed by Stryker (although he does testify to selling Howmedica/Stryker products); (2) he has never made sales to anyone at JHMH or any physician affiliated with JHMH; (3) K & W’s sales territory does not include Phenix City, Alabama; (4) JHMH has never been in his sales territory, which includes Ozark, Enterprise, and Dothan, Alabama; (5) he has never participated in a surgical procedure at JHMH; (6) he has never spoken to Culpepper or anyone who treated her; and (7) no other K & W salesperson has made sales to JHMH. (Doc. # 1-3.) Culpepper mentions Blackmon by name only four times in her Complaint (not including the style), and never in the substantive counts.

On October 4, 2012, Culpepper filed a Motion to Remand this action back to the Circuit Court of Bullock County, Alabama, arguing that there is a possibility that she can establish at least one of her claims against Blackmon in state court. (Doc. # 15.) The only evidence Culpepper submitted in support of her motion is: (1) an unauthenticated copy of Blackmon’s business card, which shows the word “Stryker” on it; (2) unauthenticated documents from the 2012 Alabama Orthopaedic Society’s Annual meeting, an Alabama Podiatric Medical Association Seminar, and a 2009 newsletter from the Mississippi Ortho[1150]*1150paedic Society, which associate K &

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968 F. Supp. 2d 1144, 2013 WL 4852307, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130380, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/culpepper-v-stryker-corp-almd-2013.