In re Solodyn (Minocycline Hydrochloride) Antitrust Litigation
This text of 999 F. Supp. 2d 1383 (In re Solodyn (Minocycline Hydrochloride) Antitrust Litigation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
TRANSFER ORDER
Before the Panel:
All the responding parties support centralization, but disagree as to the transferee district. Plaintiffs in eight Eastern [1384]*1384District of Pennsylvania end-payor cases support centralization in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Plaintiff in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Rochester Drug direct purchaser action supports centralization in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania or, alternatively, the District of Massachusetts. Plaintiff in the District of Arizona action suggests centralization in District of Arizona or the District of Massachusetts. Plaintiffs in the three District of Massachusetts actions support centralization in the District of Massachusetts.
On the basis of the papers filed and the hearing session held, we find that these actions involve common questions of fact, and that centralization under Section 1407 in the District of Massachusetts will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of this litigation. These actions are purported nationwide class actions alleging that defendants violated federal and state antitrust laws by excluding generic competition for Solodyn3 through, among other things: filing sham patent litigation and baseless citizen petitions with the Food and Drug Administration, entering into reverse payment agreements in which Medicis allegedly agreed to pay the generic manufacturer defendants substantial sums in exchange for delaying entry of their less expensive generic versions of Solodyn into the market, and enacting a “product-hopping” scheme in which Medicis unnecessarily introduced varying dosages of Solodyn in an effort to deplete demand for approved generic dosages. Centralization will eliminate duplicative discovery; prevent inconsistent pretrial rulings, including with respect to class certification; and conserve the resources of the parties, them counsel and the judiciary.
Given that this litigation involves the alleged anticompetitive conduct of several pharmaceutical manufacturers concerning a prescription drug that has been widely marketed throughout the nation, any number of districts could serve as the transferee district. On balance, we conclude that the District of Massachusetts is an appropriate transferee district for this litigation. This district offers a forum that is both convenient and accessible for the parties and witnesses, particularly for the numerous defendants that are based along the East Coast.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, the actions listed on Schedule A and pending outside the District of Massachusetts are transferred to the District of Massachusetts and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the Honorable Denise J. Casper for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings with the actions pending there.
SCHEDULE A
MDL No. 2503 — IN RE: SOLODYN (MINOCYCLINE HYDROCHLORIDE) ANTITRUST LITIGATION
District of Arizona
City of Providence, Rhode Island v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-01952
District of Massachusetts
Ahold USA Inc. v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 1:13-12225
[1385]*1385International Union of Operating Engineers Stationary Engineers Local 39 Health & Welfare Trust Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. et al., C.A. No. 1:13-12435
Painters District Council No. 30 Health and Welfare Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 1:13—12517
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 & Participating Employers Health and Welfare Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-04235
Rochester Drug Co-Operative, Inc. v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-04270
Local 271 Health & Welfare Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-04642
Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 25 Health & Welfare Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-04659
Fraternal Order of Police, Fort Lauder-dale Lodge 31, Insurance Trust Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-05021
Heather Morgan v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-05097
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 178 Health & Welfare Trust Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-05105
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 132 Health and Welfare Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-05108
Judges Paul J. Barbadoro and Lewis A. Kaplan took no part in the decision of this matter.
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999 F. Supp. 2d 1383, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23354, 2014 WL 765057, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-solodyn-minocycline-hydrochloride-antitrust-litigation-jpml-2014.