2022 IL App (1st) 210478
No. 1-21-0478
Filed June 23, 2022
Fourth Division
IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIRST DISTRICT
CHARLES MUHAMMAD AND ANGIE ) Appeal from the MUHAMMAD, as Parents of C.M., a Minor; ) Circuit Court of and C.M., Individually, ) Cook County. ) Plaintiffs-Appellants, ) ) v. ) No. 19 L 6254 ) ABBOTT LABORATORIES, INC.; ) and ABBVIE INC., ) Honorable ) Brendan A. O’Brien, Defendants-Appellees. ) Judge, Presiding
JUSTICE MARTIN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion Presiding Justice Reyes and Justice Rochford concurred in the judgment and opinion
OPINION
¶1 In 2006, C.M. was born with the neural tube defect spina bifida. As he grew, he exhibited
severe cognitive impairment and physical abnormalities. C.M.’s birth defects have been attributed
to in utero exposure to Depakote, an anticonvulsant drug that his mother, Angie Muhammad, was
prescribed to treat her mental illness. The Muhammads sued Angie’s mental health physicians and
their employer, Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Northwestern), alleging medical negligence for
prescribing Depakote when Angie could become pregnant (the Northwestern case). Following a No. 1-21-0478
jury trial, the Muhammads obtained a judgment of $18.5 million. Subsequently, the Muhammads
brought an action against Depakote’s manufacturer, Abbott Laboratories, Inc., and its related
entities (collectively, Abbott), alleging that Abbott failed to sufficiently warn physicians regarding
Depakote’s risks of causing birth defects. Abbott moved for summary judgment arguing that the
Muhammads should be judicially estopped from asserting this claim since, as Abbott contended,
they took an inconsistent position in the prior Northwestern case. In addition, Abbott insisted the
Muhammads cannot prove that Abbott caused C.M.’s injuries since, inter alia, the physicians
testified in depositions that greater warnings would not have affected their decisions to prescribe
Depakote. The circuit court granted Abbott’s summary judgment motion, finding that the
Muhammads were taking a position against Abbott contrary to their previous position in the
Northwestern case. Based on that finding, the court concluded that judicial estoppel precluded the
Muhammads’ claim and that Abbott was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. The Muhammads
appeal.
¶2 I. BACKGROUND
¶3 Angie Muhammad had a history of acute psychotic episodes and was hospitalized on
several occasions as a result. In December 2003, Angie began receiving treatment at
Northwestern’s psychiatry department, known as the Rehabilitation Clinic of the Stone Institute
of Psychiatry (Rehab Clinic). Angie was hospitalized four times between January and May 2005
with acute psychotic symptoms, including auditory hallucinations and suicidal and homicidal
ideation (thoughts of killing herself, husband, and two young children).
¶4 Dr. Christian Stepansky, a second-year psychiatry resident at the Rehab Clinic, was part of
Angie’s treatment team and began seeing her every Tuesday to assess her symptoms and
medication regimen. Angie’s psychiatric condition was considered severe, complicated, and
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difficult to treat. She was diagnosed with schizoaffective and bipolar disorders. She experienced
“mixed episodes” of simultaneous manic and depressive symptoms and “rapid cycling”—frequent
episodes of mania or depression. These symptoms were not controlled by Angie’s antipsychotic
medication, and she was at risk of harming herself or others unless her mood could be stabilized.
Dr. Stepansky referred Angie to Dr. Pedro Dago for evaluation, in part to assess whether a
language barrier was inhibiting Angie’s care. Angie’s first language was Spanish, and Dr. Dago
was a Spanish speaking psychiatrist. After his evaluation on May 19, 2005, Dr. Dago
recommended that Angie be prescribed either lithium or Depakote 1 to stabilize her mood.
¶5 Dr. Stepansky, under the supervision of attending psychiatrist Dr. Marcia Brontman,
decided to recommend that Angie take Depakote. He reasoned that lithium was not a good option
since lithium’s therapeutic dosage is near the toxic dosage, which could result in death, and Angie
had a history of suicidal ideation and a prior overdose attempt. He also ruled out another drug,
Tegretol, since that drug was known to counteract birth control medication, which Angie was
using, and she did not want to become pregnant. In addition, Depakote was more effective than
the other drugs at controlling rapid cycling and mixed episodes.
¶6 Dr. Stepansky knew, however, that Depakote posed a risk of birth defects if taken during
pregnancy, including that a child could be born with spina bifida. The 2005 edition of the
Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) included a “black box” warning stating that Depakote can
produce birth defects such as spina bifida if taken during pregnancy. In addition, the PDR entry
for Depakote reported that Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data showed a 1% to 2% risk of a
child being born with spina bifida if taken during the first trimester of pregnancy, up to 20 times
the rate in the general population. The same information appeared on the insert Abbott included in
1 Depakote is also known as valproate or valproic acid. -3- No. 1-21-0478
Depakote’s packaging. Dr. Stepansky was aware of the PDR and insert warnings, but he did not
recall reviewing either while he was treating Angie.
¶7 On May 24, 2005, Dr. Stepansky discussed his recommendation with Angie that she take
Depakote. He informed her about the risk of birth defects if she were to become pregnant while
taking it and advised that she not conceive because of that risk. At the time, Angie was using birth
control medication that was administered by a patch affixed to her arm. Angie had some history
of noncompliance with taking medication as directed, but unlike oral medication that must be taken
daily, the patch was effective for several days before needing replacement. In addition, Dr.
Stepansky and the nurse who participated in Angie’s weekly appointments could monitor Angie’s
patch compliance. Since Angie stated she did not want to become pregnant and he believed her
birth control could be managed, Dr. Stepansky reasoned that the benefit of Depakote to stabilize
her mood outweighed the risk.
¶8 At her next appointment, on May 31, Angie informed Dr. Stepansky that her menstrual
period was late. He ordered an immediate test that revealed she was not pregnant. Over the next
few months, Dr. Stepansky increased the Depakote dosage to reach a tolerable therapeutic level.
In July, Dr. Thomas Allen replaced Dr. Brontman as the attending psychiatrist supervising
Dr. Stepansky. In an appointment on October 11, 2005, Angie again stated that she had missed her
menstrual period. On this occasion, Angie refused to undergo an immediate pregnancy test but
agreed to take one at home and report the result. Several days later, after an appointment with her
psychologist, Angie requested that Dr. Stepansky order a pregnancy test at Northwestern. The
laboratory confirmed that Angie was pregnant on October 20. That same day, Dr. Stepansky
contacted Angie and instructed her to stop taking Depakote. Angie experienced another psychotic
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episode in December. Dr. Stepansky then prescribed lithium to stabilize her mood. Angie
continued to take lithium for the remainder of her pregnancy.
¶9 Angie likely became pregnant in early September 2005. Her son, C.M., was born in May
2006 with spina bifida. C.M. has severe cognitive impairment, his jaw and teeth are maldeveloped,
and he suffers from other malformations. A neurologist, Dr. George Siegel, has opined that these
medical issues were caused by his in utero exposure to Depakote during the early period of
embryogenesis. These conditions are permanent.
¶ 10 The Muhammads first brought an action for medical negligence against Northwestern in
2012. Dr. Allen was named as a defendant, but Dr. Stepansky was not. The complaint alleged that:
“Depakote was well known within the medical and mental health communities as a drug
that could cause serious, debilitating birth defects to a developing fetus, including the birth
defect known as Spina Bifida, and was therefore well known within the same health care
communities to be contraindicated for women who are or might become pregnant while
using Depakote.”
It further alleged that after Angie reported in May 2005 that she might be pregnant:
“Rather than discontinuing the Depakote, and despite knowledge of the well documented
and widely accepted dangers associated with the use of Depakote *** the dosage of
Depakote was between May and September 2005 increased rather than halted ***.”
¶ 11 The Muhammads filed a separate action against Abbott in August 2017, alleging that
Abbott failed to provide adequate warnings of Depakote’s risk of birth defects. They voluntarily
dismissed the Abbott case in June 2018 and the Northwestern case proceeded to a jury trial
beginning in August 2018. Before trial, the Muhammads filed a motion in limine to bar the
Northwestern defendants from eliciting any evidence that the Muhammads had filed a separate
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action against Abbott. At the hearing on the motion in limine, the Muhammads’ counsel explained
that the Abbott complaint had been filed to preserve the Muhammads’ ability to pursue a remedy
against Abbott within the applicable statute of limitations. He added, “if *** we win this trial, then
there would be no need to take further action.” He went on to argue that any mention of the
Muhammads’ action against Abbott would be prejudicial and was otherwise irrelevant. He pointed
out that the Northwestern physicians all acknowledged that they were aware that Depakote posed
a risk of birth defects and none of them claimed that they would not have prescribed Depakote if
they had more information. Defense counsel indicated that the issue could be relevant for purposes
of cross-examining Dr. Siegel, one of the Muhammads’ experts. The trial judge tentatively granted
the motion in limine barring mention of the action filed against Abbott, but she informed the parties
that they would revisit the issue before the cross-examination of Dr. Siegel to narrowly tailor the
permissible questioning. 2
¶ 12 In opening statements, the Muhammads’ lawyer told the jury that their psychiatry expert,
Dr. Cheryl Wills, would testify that Depakote was a “reasonable choice” for Angie when it was
originally prescribed on May 24, provided that the physicians ensured that she was using reliable
birth control. However, Dr. Wills would also testify that the balance of benefits versus risks of
taking Depakote shifted on May 31 when Angie reported she might be pregnant. As counsel
explained, Dr. Wills believed that based on the May 31 “pregnancy scare,” the physicians should
have realized that they needed to take Angie off Depakote. Coupled with other indicators that
Angie could not be relied on to use the birth control patch correctly, the physicians could not
2 The record before us does not include any further discussion of the issue from the Northwestern trial or show what ultimately occurred. -6- No. 1-21-0478
sufficiently ensure she would not get pregnant. On the stand, Dr. Wills testified that the physicians
should have stopped prescribing Depakote on May 31. 3
¶ 13 According to an instruction given to the jury, the Muhammads alleged that Northwestern
and Dr. Allen negligently caused C.M.’s injuries by the following:
“(a) Failed to adequately monitor a second year resident’s care and treatment of [a]
complicated mentally ill patient; or
(b) Failed to put into place an adequate plan to prevent Angie Muhammad from
getting pregnant while taking Depakote (valproic acid); or
(c) Failed to re-evaluate Angie Muhammad and her birth control plan when she
reported that her menstrual period was late on May 31, 2005; or
(d) Failed to stop prescribing Depakote (valproic acid) on May 31, 2005 when
Angie Muhammad reported that her menstrual period was late; or
(e) Failed to secure a pregnancy test on October 11, 2005 when Angie Muhammad
reported that her menstrual period was late; or
(f) [F]ailed [to] direct Angie Muhmmad to stop taking Depakote (valproic acid) on
October 2005 when she reported that her menstrual period was late.”
The jury returned an $18.5 million verdict in favor of the Muhammads. 4
¶ 14 The Abbott case was refiled in June 2019. The Abbott complaint asserts various causes of
action, including strict product liability and negligence. All the claims share the common factual
allegation that Abbott failed to adequately warn about Depakote’s risks of birth defects.
3 Abbott attached only this single question and answer from a transcript of Dr. Wills’s trial testimony to its motion for summary judgment. The record here discloses nothing more about her testimony. 4 Pursuant to a “high-low” agreement, Northwestern paid $12 million. -7- No. 1-21-0478
¶ 15 According to an affidavit from psychiatrist Dr. Suhayl Joseph Nasr, documents produced
in discovery in this case reveal that Abbott was made aware in 2004 of two new data sets
suggesting a 10.7% to 17% risk of birth defects associated with Depakote use in women with
epilepsy. Neither Dr. Nasr’s affidavit nor the related supporting documents differentiate between
spina bifida and other birth defects regarding this 10% to 17% risk. Nonetheless, researchers
reported to Abbott that this rate of risk was “significantly higher than the package insert.” Also in
2004, a separate study indicated that 8.1% of babies born to women taking Depakote had major
malformations. The researchers of that study provided Abbott with a draft abstract stating their
conclusion that “[Depakote] is a potent teratogen[5] in humans and its use should be reduced to the
minimum or substituted with another safer [anticonvulsant drug].” Dr. Nasr asserts that if Abbott’s
labeling and warnings had disclosed a 10% to 17% risk of birth defects, a reasonably careful
psychiatrist adhering to the standard of care would not have prescribed Depakote for Angie on
May 24, 2005, or any later date. In Dr. Nasr’s opinion, the 10% to 17% risk of birth defects—
compared to the 1% to 2% risk of spina bifida or unquantified risks of other defects disclosed in
the insert and PDR—significantly changes the risk-benefit analysis when considering Depakote
for a patient like Angie, such that the risks outweighed the benefit. Additionally, Dr. Nasr believes
lithium, which only carries a small risk of correctable heart defects, was a superior alternative for
Angie. Ultimately, Dr. Nasr opines that if Abbott had disclosed Depakote’s greater 10% to 17%
risk of birth defects, C.M. would not have been born with spina bifida and other congenital defects.
¶ 16 In a deposition taken in 2020, two years after the trial in the Northwestern case, Dr.
Stepansky testified that, in 2005, he knew that Depakote posed an increased risk of spina bifida if
taken when pregnant. Further, he knew that spina bifida was a serious condition that could lead to
5 An agent or factor which causes malformation of an embryo. -8- No. 1-21-0478
cognitive impairment and other developmental abnormalities. The reported 1% to 2% risk of spina
bifida was “all [he] needed to know,” according to Dr. Stepansky, whether to recommend that
Angie take Depakote. He further explained that the insert and PDR warning was “enough for [him]
to decide not to prescribe [Depakote] to a woman of child-bearing years unless she was using
reliable birth control.”
¶ 17 Similarly, Dr. Allen testified in a 2020 deposition that “birth control was a very critical
factor *** in approving the prescription of Depakote in 2005.” Had Angie not been using reliable
birth control, he would not have approved the prescription as he did when supervising
Dr. Stepansky. Like Dr. Stepansky, Dr. Allen attested that the 1% to 2% risk of spina bifida was
enough information to not prescribe Depakote to any woman of child-bearing age who was not
using birth control. But, so long as Angie was, the benefits outweighed the risks, in his opinion. If
the reported risk of birth defects had been higher, according to Dr. Allen, it would not have changed
his analysis. Rather, “it all depends on whether she’s on birth control or not.” Since he believed
Angie needed Depakote to treat her bipolar disorder and she was taking precautions to not get
pregnant, he would have still prescribed it “regardless of what the percentage of risk was,” even
“100%.”
¶ 18 In his affidavit, Dr. Nasr states that Dr. Stepansky’s and Dr. Allen’s statements that they
would have prescribed Depakote for Angie regardless of the level of risk is contrary to the standard
of care. Rather, in his opinion, the 10% to 17% risk of birth defects revealed in the 2004 studies
rendered Depakote unsafe for her and, had Abbott disclosed such risk, a reasonably careful
psychiatrist would not have prescribed it for her.
¶ 19 As we noted, Abbott moved for summary judgment on two separate bases. First, Abbott
argued that the Muhammads’ claim premised on the failure to warn about Depakote’s risk of birth
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defects is inconsistent with the position they took against the physicians in the Northwestern case.
Second, Abbott argued that the Muhammads cannot prove Abbott’s failure to warn was the
proximate cause of C.M.’s injury since, inter alia, Drs. Stepansky and Allen testified that greater
warnings would not have made a difference in their decision to prescribe Depakote for Angie. The
circuit court agreed with Abbott’s first argument. In a written order, the court summarized the two
cases as follows:
“In the previous Northwestern case, Plaintiffs contended that the treating doctor should
have stopped prescribing Depakote on May 31, 2005, when he learned it was possible Mrs.
Muhammad was pregnant because the doctors knew of the birth risks associated with
Depakote. In this Abbott case, Plaintiffs argue that Mrs. Muhammad should never have
been given Depakote at all because the doctors did not know of the risks.”
The court found these theories inconsistent by reasoning that:
“The jury in the Northwestern case presumably accepted that the doctors knew or
should have known of Depakote’s birth risks and returned a verdict in Plaintiffs’ favor
based on the doctors negligently prescribing it when they suspected she was pregnant.
Plaintiffs now allege that Defendants failed to warn the doctors regarding the birth risks
associated with the use of the drug. If Plaintiffs succeed here in Abbott and prove that
Defendants failed to warn the doctors, then this would be contrary to the previous position
and verdict that found the doctors failed to conform their treatment to the applicable
standard of care based on their knowledge of Depakote’s birth risks.”
Based on its finding, the circuit court concluded that Abbott proved by clear and convincing
evidence that judicial estoppel applied and granted Abbott’s summary judgment motion. The court
did not address Abbott’s alternative argument. The Muhammads filed a timely notice of appeal.
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¶ 20 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 21 A. Standard for Summary Judgment
¶ 22 Summary judgment is appropriate only when there are no genuine issues of material fact
and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Carney v. Union Pacific R.R. Co.,
2016 IL 118984, ¶ 25. We review a circuit court’s entry of summary judgment de novo. Jarosz v.
Buona Cos., 2022 IL App (1st) 210181, ¶ 29. De novo review means we consider the motion anew
and perform the same analysis that a trial court would. Khan v. BDO Seidman, LLP, 408 Ill. App.
3d 564, 578 (2011). We may affirm summary judgment where the pleadings, depositions,
affidavits, and admissions on file establish that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that
the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Jarosz, 2022 IL App (1st) 210181,
¶ 22. However, we construe the record strictly against the movant and liberally in favor of the
nonmoving party, drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmovant. Shuttlesworth v.
City of Chicago, 377 Ill. App. 3d 360, 366 (2007). Since summary judgment is a drastic measure,
it should only be granted if the movant’s right to judgment is clear and free from doubt. Seymour
v. Collins, 2015 IL 118432, ¶ 42.
¶ 23 B. Principles of Judicial Estoppel
¶ 24 Judicial estoppel is an equitable doctrine that may be invoked when a litigant took a
position in one judicial proceeding, benefited from that position, and then seeks to assert a contrary
position in a later proceeding. Id. ¶ 36. The doctrine aims to “protect the integrity of the judicial
process by prohibiting a party from ‘deliberately changing positions’ according to the exigencies
of the moment.” Id. (quoting New Hampshire v. Maine, 532 U.S. 742, 749-50 (2001)). It “is
intended to promote truth-seeking, while dissuading gamesmanship.” Davis v. Pace Suburban Bus
Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, 2021 IL App (1st) 200519, ¶ 27. “The core
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concern is *** that a party takes factually inconsistent positions, in separate proceedings, intending
that the trier of fact accept the truth of the facts alleged.” Seymour, 2015 IL 118432, ¶ 38. The
party seeking to invoke judicial estoppel must prove it by clear and convincing evidence. Id. ¶ 39.
¶ 25 Five prerequisites are “generally required” before a court can invoke judicial estoppel:
“The party to be estopped must have (1) taken two positions, (2) that are factually inconsistent,
(3) in separate judicial or quasi-judicial administrative proceedings, (4) intending for the trier of
fact to accept the truth of the facts alleged, and (5) have succeeded in the first proceeding and
received some benefit from it.” Id. ¶ 37.
¶ 26 Yet, even if the prerequisites are met, judicial estoppel should be considered and applied
with caution to avoid impinging on the truth-seeking function of the court. Id. ¶ 39. It is an
extraordinary measure and must be carefully confined to its anti-hoodwinking purpose. Ceres
Terminals, Inc. v. Chicago City Bank & Trust Co., 259 Ill. App. 3d 836, 850 (1994). Judicial
estoppel is intended to address bad faith—playing “ ‘fast and loose’ ” with the court. People v.
Runge, 234 Ill. 2d 68, 133 (2009) (quoting People v. Caballero, 206 Ill. 2d 65, 80 (2002)). A
change in theory does not necessarily indicate that a party is acting in bad faith. Indeed, a change
of position in response to new, previously unavailable evidence is “consistent with the court’s
truthfinding role” and does not trigger judicial estoppel. (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id.
¶ 27 For these reasons, a court’s inquiry is not complete once it finds the prerequisite factors of
judicial estoppel are met. Rather, the court must next determine, in its discretion, whether judicial
estoppel should be invoked “ ‘as fairness and justice require.’ ” Davis, 2021 IL App (1st) 200519,
¶ 73 (quoting Yorulmazoglu v. Lake Forest Hospital, 359 Ill. App. 3d 554, 563 (2005)). If the court
finds that that party did not intend to be deceptive, or if the court believes that applying the doctrine
would lead to unwarranted or unjust results, the court need not invoke it. Id. ¶ 29.
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¶ 28 C. Are the Muhammads’ Positions Inconsistent?
¶ 29 Abbott argues that the Muhammads’ claims in this case are factually inconsistent with the
position they took in the Northwestern case. Abbott posits that the plaintiffs “revised the relevant
factual underpinnings and their causation theories in successive suits to obtain an unfair
advantage.” In its summary judgment motion, Abbott asserted that the “basic premise” of the
Muhammads’ position in the Northwestern case was that the physicians “had all the information
they needed to prescribe the medicine safely, but failed to utilize that knowledge in accord with
the standard of care.” Abbott noted that the Muhammads’ complaint against Northwestern alleged
that it was “well known within the medical and mental healthcare communities” that Depakote
could cause birth defects. And they alleged the physicians failed to discontinue it “despite
knowledge of the well documented and widely accepted dangers associated with the use of
Depakote.” But, Abbott insisted, the Muhammads were now blaming Abbott for inadequate
warnings about the “same risks” that they previously alleged to be widely known. In its brief before
this court, Abbott avers that in the Northwestern case, the plaintiffs “argued that the substandard
treating decisions of Mrs. Muhammad’s physicians were the sole cause of her alleged injuries.”
(Emphasis in original.) Abbott further contends that “[t]o support their position, Plaintiffs argued
*** that no additional information from Abbott would have made a difference because the
defendant physicians still would have made the same prescribing decision.”
¶ 30 Based on the record before us, we disagree with Abbott’s characterization of the
Muhammads’ positions. Rather, we find that the Muhammads’ positions in the separate cases are
compatible. Cf. id. ¶ 42 (finding judicial estoppel applied when “plaintiff was taking
fundamentally incompatible positions in each case”). That is, the acceptance of the facts alleged
in the Northwestern case as true does not necessarily preclude the truth of the Muhammads’ factual
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allegations against Abbott. See Pepper Construction Co. v. Palmolive Tower Condominiums, LLC,
2016 IL App (1st) 142754, ¶ 68 (“For judicial estoppel to apply, the two positions must be totally
inconsistent—the truth of one must necessarily preclude the truth of the other.”).
¶ 31 Courts recognize that there can be more than one proximate cause of a plaintiff’s injury.
Shicheng Guo v. Kamal, 2020 IL App (1st) 190090, ¶ 23. Any actor whose negligence proximately
causes an injury in whole or in part is liable to the plaintiff. Davis, 2021 IL App (1st) 200519, ¶ 50.
¶ 32 Abbott’s alleged failure to provide sufficient warnings about Depakote’s risk of birth
defects and the physicians’ failure to cease prescribing Depakote to Angie once it became apparent
her birth control measures were unreliable could both be found to be proximate causes of C.M.’s
injuries. According to Dr. Nasr, if Abbott had disclosed the 10% to 17% risk of birth defects, which
was greater than the warning information stated in the insert, physicians adhering to the standard
of care would not have prescribed Depakote for Angie at any time. Dr. Nasr’s opinion implies a
corollary that the inadequate warning led the physicians to believe that Angie could safely take
Depakote subject to reliable birth control measures. Notably, that is the standard of care that Dr.
Wills appears to have testified was applicable in the Northwestern trial. The standard of care is
based on information known at the time of a physician’s action. Granberry v. Carbondale Clinic,
S.C., 285 Ill. App. 3d 54, 65 (1996) (“no physician should have his conduct measured by
knowledge and standards not in existence at the time the conduct at issue occurred” (emphasis in
original)); see also Smith v. Silver Cross Hospital, 339 Ill. App. 3d 67, 76-77 (2003) (finding that
policies and procedures adopted after the time of treatment at issue were irrelevant to establish the
applicable standard of care). The Muhammads alleged, and the Northwestern case jury necessarily
accepted, that the physicians did not meet the standard of care by continuing to prescribe Depakote
to Angie when they should have realized her birth control was unreliable. Their negligence was
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not predicated so much on the extent of their knowledge that Depakote could cause birth defects,
but on their misjudgment about Angie’s ability to use effective birth control measures. The jury
instruction outlining the Muhammads’ negligence allegations, focused on the continuation of
Depakote rather than its initial prescription, underscores this point. That the physicians had, in
Abbott’s words, “all they needed to know to discontinue Depakote” does not preclude that they
lacked sufficient information to not start Angie on Depakote to begin with. (Emphasis added.)
¶ 33 Despite the physicians’ negligence, Abbott’s allegedly deficient warning could still be
found to be a proximate cause of C.M.’s injury. A plaintiff asserting a claim based on a drug
maker’s failure to warn must establish that the failure to warn caused the injury. Smith v. Eli Lilly
& Co., 137 Ill. 2d 222, 266 (1990). A defendant’s conduct is a cause of the plaintiff’s injury “only
if that conduct is a material element and a substantial factor in bringing about the injury.” Abrams
v. City of Chicago, 211 Ill. 2d 251, 258 (2004). This standard is met when, “absent that conduct,
the injury would not have occurred.” Id. If a finder of fact were to accept Dr. Nasr’s opinion that
physicians would never have prescribed Depakote to Angie if there had been sufficient warnings,
then, but for the deficient warning, the physicians’ later negligence would not have occurred and
C.M. would not have been injured by exposure to Depakote. “[P]roximate cause ‘need not be the
only, last or nearest cause; it is sufficient if it occurs with some other cause acting at the same time,
which in combination with it, causes injury.’ ” Garest v. Booth, 2014 IL App (1st) 121845, ¶ 41
(quoting Leone v. City of Chicago, 235 Ill. App. 3d 595, 603 (1992)). “[A] tortfeasor cannot avoid
responsibility merely because another person is guilty of negligence contributing to the same
injury, and even though the injury would not have occurred but for the negligence of the other
person.” Unger v. Eichleay Corp., 244 Ill. App. 3d 445, 452 (1993). This court has recognized that
a prescribing physician’s malpractice does not necessarily relieve a drug manufacturer from
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liability for failure to provide adequate warnings of a drug’s risks. Mahr v. G.D. Searle & Co., 72
Ill. App. 3d 540, 566 (1979). Accordingly, the Muhammads’ theories of liability against Abbott
and Northwestern are compatible. The facts asserted to establish either the physicians’ or the drug
maker’s liability do not necessarily preclude the others’ liability.
¶ 34 The alleged facts discussed in Davis provide an analogy. There, a bus passenger sustained
injuries when the bus driver braked suddenly to avoid colliding with a Lexus sedan that had pulled
into the bus’s path from a parking lot. Davis, 2021 IL App (1st) 200519, ¶ 6. The plaintiff filed an
action seeking a declaratory judgment against his auto insurer on the theory that the unidentified
Lexus was a “ ‘hit-and-run’ ” vehicle, thus triggering coverage under the uninsured motorist
provision of plaintiff’s policy (the coverage case). Id. ¶ 10. The circuit court ultimately agreed
with the plaintiff and found he was entitled to coverage under that provision. Id. ¶ 14. Within the
coverage case, the court found that the Lexus driver’s negligence in pulling into the bus’s path was
a proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries “ ‘because [the Lexus] caused the bus driver to take
actions that then caused the plaintiff to fall.’ ” Id. ¶ 13. Separately, the plaintiff sued the bus
company alleging that the bus driver was negligent for speeding and slamming on the brakes
instead of gradually slowing to avoid the Lexus. Id. ¶¶ 17, 19. This court observed that since there
can be more than one proximate cause of a plaintiff’s injury, “[t]here would be nothing inconsistent
*** with plaintiff claiming that the negligence of the Lexus driver was a proximate cause of his
injuries *** and that the negligence of the [bus driver] was a proximate cause of his injuries.” Id.
¶ 50. Here, by analogy, Abbott is like the Lexus driver and the physicians are like the bus driver.
In both cases, it is consistent to claim that the later actor’s conduct caused the injury, and such
conduct would not have occurred but for the initial actor’s conduct, which is also a cause of the
injury.
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¶ 35 Although the plaintiff in Davis was judicially estopped, judicial estoppel did not apply on
account of the theories he asserted for each defendant’s liability. The court found judicial estoppel
appropriate since, after winning the coverage case, his expert witness testified in a deposition that
the bus driver’s negligence was the sole proximate cause of his injuries rather than a proximate
cause along with the Lexus driver’s negligence. Id. ¶ 51. Through the expert’s opinion, his position
“morphed” between the coverage case and the tort case against the bus company. Id. ¶ 53. Nothing
similar has occurred here. Contrary to Abbott’s assertion, we do not find that the Muhammads,
through their experts or otherwise, have claimed that either the physicians or Abbott is solely to
blame for C.M.’s injuries. As we have explained, Dr. Wills’s opinion that the physicians caused
C.M.’s injury by keeping Angie on Depakote when the unreliability of her birth control was
apparent does not preclude Dr. Nasr’s opinion that Abbott’s failure to warn caused C.M.’s injuries
since a greater warning would have led the physicians to not prescribe her Depakote at all.
¶ 36 At first glance, Dr. Wills’s testimony that Depakote was initially a “reasonable choice” for
Angie appears to contradict Dr. Nasr’s opinion that Angie should have never been prescribed
Depakote at all. However, we are not persuaded that this apparent inconsistency compels us to
invoke judicial estoppel. First, we do not know whether Dr. Wills testified that it was reasonable
to start Angie on Depakote. Abbott’s only supporting evidence is counsel’s opening statement
indicating how she would testify, not her actual testimony. It is not unheard of for testimony to fail
to match what was promised in an opening statement. Apart from that, Dr. Nasr indicated that his
opinion was based on information obtained in discovery in the Abbott case. The record does not
establish that Dr. Wills was privy to the same information. We cannot presume that Dr. Wills
considered the same information or that her “reasonable choice” testimony, if she so testified,
necessarily implied that she believed the additional information Dr. Nasr discusses has no effect
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on prescribing decisions. Thus, Abbott has not shown by clear and convincing evidence that the
experts based their opinions on the “same risks.” More significant, the initial prescription of
Depakote does not appear to have been the focus of Dr. Wills’s testimony. She opined that the
physicians failed to meet the standard of care by continuing Angie on Depakote when her birth
control was unreliable. The record before us shows that Dr. Wills’s testimony merely concerned
the physicians’ conduct based on what was known about Depakote at that time. Dr. Nasr’s opinion
regards other, undisclosed information about Depakote. The experts simply address different
matters.
¶ 37 In addition, even if we were to consider Dr. Wills’s and Dr. Nasr’s opinions to be
contradictory, we cannot foreclose the possibility that the difference reflects the discovery of new
evidence justifying a change in theory. A change of position in response to new, previously
unavailable evidence is “consistent with the court’s truthfinding role” and does not trigger judicial
estoppel. (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Runge, 234 Ill. 2d at 133. As mentioned, additional
undisclosed evidence about Depakote’s risk of birth defects came to light during discovery in this
case, and the record does not demonstrate the experts were considering the same information.
¶ 38 Further, we reject Abbott’s contention that the Muhammads’ position in the Northwestern
case included that “no additional information from Abbott would have made a difference because
the defendant physicians still would have made the same prescribing decision.” For that
proposition, Abbott relies on statements the Muhammads’ counsel made to support their motion
in limine to bar mention of their separate suit against Abbott. Such statements, of course, were
made to the judge, not the jury. While any part of the trial record may provide some indicia of a
party’s position, judicial estoppel is ultimately concerned with factual allegations that a party
intends for the finder of fact to accept as true. Seymour, 2015 IL 118432, ¶ 38. By themselves,
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arguments advanced to the judge in a motion in limine before a jury trial are not factual allegations
intended for the finder of fact—the jury—to accept as true. Abbott has not directed us to any part
of the record in the Northwestern case apart from the motion in limine hearing to demonstrate that
the Muhammads presented arguments or evidence to the jury that the physicians “still would have
made the same prescribing decision.” In addition, the Muhammads’ counsel did not actually state
nor imply such a thing. Rather, he argued that evidence about the separate suit was prejudicial and
irrelevant since none of the physicians were claiming that they would have acted differently had
Abbott provided more information. In other words, he was pointing out that the physicians were
not asserting, as a defense to their alleged negligence, that Abbott failed to adequately warn them.
Thus, the statements do not signify anything about what the Muhammads were claiming. “The
physicians are not saying so” does not equate to “we are saying so.”
¶ 39 Similarly, the Muhammads’ counsel’s statement “if *** we win this trial, then there would
be no need to take further action” does not compel us to invoke judicial estoppel. This statement,
too, was made to the judge in argument on the motion in limine and not to the jury to accept as
true. Also, it is a legal opinion and not a statement of fact. Judicial estoppel applies to statements
of fact, not to legal opinions or conclusions. Pepper Construction Co., 2016 IL App (1st) 142754,
¶ 66. Like the other statements made by counsel, it may provide some indicia of the Muhammads’
position, but Abbott has not provided clear and convincing evidence that the Muhammads alleged
facts in the trial of the Northwestern case that were inconsistent with their position in this case
such that the judgment in their favor bars “further action” against Abbott.
¶ 40 In sum, the Muhammads did not simply flip-flop from “the doctors were sufficiently
warned” to “the doctors were not sufficiently warned.” The Northwestern case claimed the
physicians’ negligence regarding Angie’s birth control while on Depakote was a cause of C.M.’s
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injuries, while this case claims that Abbott’s insufficient warning of Depakote’s risks of birth
defects was another cause of C.M.’s injuries. The Muhammads have not alleged expressly or
implicitly in either action that any defendant was solely responsible for C.M.’s injuries, and their
experts’ opinions can be reconciled as consistent with one another. We find that Abbott has failed
to show by clear and convincing evidence that the Muhammads are taking a position in this case
inconsistent with their position in the Northwestern case. Accordingly, we decline to invoke
judicial estoppel to bar this action.
¶ 41 D. Proximate Cause
¶ 42 Separate from its argument based on judicial estoppel, Abbott contends that the
Muhammads cannot prove Abbott’s alleged failure to warn is a proximate cause of C.M.’s injury
and, therefore, Abbott is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
¶ 43 In part, Abbott relies on the “learned intermediary” doctrine, which holds that “[t]he doctor,
functioning as a learned intermediary between the prescription drug manufacturer and the patient,
decides which available drug best fits the patient’s needs and chooses which facts from the various
warnings should be conveyed to the patient.” Kirk v. Michael Reese Hospital & Medical Center,
117 Ill. 2d 507, 519 (1987). Since physicians function as learned intermediaries, “there is no duty
on the part of manufacturers of prescription drugs to directly warn patients.” Id. Rather,
“manufacturers of prescription drugs have a duty to warn prescribing physicians of the drugs’
known dangerous propensities.” Id. at 517. Adequate warnings of a drug’s risks and side effects
shield the manufacturer from liability if a patient suffers from those effects while taking the drug.
Sellers v. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 881 F. Supp. 2d 992, 1005 (S.D. Ill. 2012)
(citing Kirk, 117 Ill. 2d 507). At the same time, “there is no duty to warn of a risk that is already
known by those to be warned.” Proctor v. Davis, 291 Ill. App. 3d 265, 277 (1997). So, “a drug
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manufacturer need not provide a warning of risks known to the medical community.” Id. But,
“ ‘[d]octors who have not been sufficiently warned of the harmful effects of a drug cannot be
considered “learned intermediaries.” ’ ” (Emphasis in original.) Hansen v. Baxter Healthcare
Corp., 198 Ill. 2d 420, 432 (2002) (quoting Proctor, 291 Ill. App. 3d at 283).
¶ 44 Thus, to establish a drug manufacturer’s liability, a plaintiff must show the drug
manufacturer’s warning was inadequate and the risk was not widely known in the medical
community. Sellers, 881 F. Supp. 2d at 1006 (citing Hansen, 198 Ill. 2d at 432, Proctor, 291 Ill.
App. 3d at 280, and Tongate v. Wyeth Laboratories, 220 Ill. App. 3d 952, 963 (1991)). The
adequacy of warnings is generally a question of fact. Proctor, 291 Ill. App. 3d at 283. Expert
testimony is required to establish that a warning is inadequate unless a lay person could readily
understand the insufficiency of the warning. Northern Trust Co. v. Upjohn Co., 213 Ill. App. 3d
390, 399 (1991).
¶ 45 Abbott argues that the Muhammads cannot show that its warning was inadequate or that
Depakote’s risks of birth defects were not widely known in the medical community, contending
that they have not produced evidence to support either proposition. Moreover, Abbott contends
that the record establishes the opposite since the physicians testified that they were aware that
Depakote could cause birth defects and such risks were stated in the package insert and PDR. We
disagree. Though the record demonstrates that in 2005 the insert and PDR reported a 1% to 2%
risk of spina bifida and noted unquantified risks of other birth defects, Dr. Nasr’s affidavit and
referenced documentation reveal that Abbott had been made aware of risks “significantly higher
than the package insert” in 2004. Dr. Stepansky and Dr. Allen testified that they were aware of the
insert and PDR warning information. Neither physician stated that he was aware of the higher risks
that Dr. Nasr’s affidavit references. Furthermore, Dr. Nasr attests that this information makes a
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difference: it changes the benefit versus risk analysis for doctors considering Depakote for a
woman of childbearing age. For Angie, he opines that physicians adhering to the standard of care
would not have prescribed Depakote at all if the higher risks had been disclosed in the warnings.
The affidavit and accompanying documents also indicate that Abbott made researchers change
their abstract title and conclusion to sound less alarming. Thus, Dr. Nasr’s affidavit necessarily
implies that the warning was inadequate due to a consequential difference in the risks Abbott was
aware of and the risks Abbott disclosed. His affidavit further implies that the greater risks were
not widely known within the medical community. Accordingly, we find that a genuine question of
fact exists on these issues.
¶ 46 Next, Abbott argues that the Muhammads cannot prove its alleged failure to warn was a
proximate cause of C.M.’s injuries since Drs. Stepansky and Allen both testified that they would
not have acted differently if they had been informed that Depakote posed a greater risk of birth
defects. Illinois courts have reasoned that a physician’s testimony that “ ‘I would not have done
anything differently’ [if I had been provided additional information]” should not be given
dispositive weight when, as in this case, the opposing party presents conflicting expert testimony
that such conduct would not conform to the standard of care. See Buck v. Charletta, 2013 IL App
(1st) 122144, ¶¶ 69, 71; Shicheng Guo, 2020 IL App (1st) 190090, ¶¶ 33-34. The resolution of the
conflict in testimony “involves factual findings and credibility determinations that should be left
to the jury.” Shicheng Guo, 2020 IL App (1st) 190090, ¶ 34.
¶ 47 Abbott argues that Buck and Shicheng Guo are inapposite since those were medical
malpractice cases, and this case concerns a drug manufacturer’s alleged failure to warn. While that
distinction is accurate, it makes no difference. Just as in Buck and Shicheng Guo, the physicians’
testimony and an expert’s opinion differ on a material issue. Whether the physicians would have
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prescribed Depakote if Abbott had disclosed risks “significantly higher than the package insert”
bears directly on whether Abbott’s alleged failure to warn was a proximate cause of C.M.’s
injuries. To prevail, the Muhammads must establish that greater warnings would have prevented
C.M.’s injuries; that is, whether greater warnings would have led the physicians to make different
prescribing decisions such that C.M. would not have been exposed to Depakote. See Northern
Trust Co., 213 Ill. App. 3d at 401; Broussard v. Houdaille Industries, Inc., 183 Ill. App. 3d 739,
744 (1989). Dr. Nasr’s affidavit and the depositions of Drs. Stepansky and Allen present
conflicting evidence on this question. A trial is the proper mechanism for resolution.
¶ 48 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 49 For these reasons, we find that judicial estoppel does not apply, genuine issues of material
fact exist as to proximate cause, and Abbott is not entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the circuit court granting Abbott summary judgment and
remand for further proceedings.
¶ 50 Reversed and remanded.
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Decision Under Review: Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 19-L-6254; the Hon. Brendan A. O’Brien, Judge, presiding.
Attorneys Milo W. Lundblad, of Brustin & Lundblad, Ltd., of Chicago, for for appellants. Appellant:
Attorneys Lauren J. Caisman, of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, of for Chicago, and Dan H. Ball and Stefani L. Wittenauer, of Bryan Appellee: Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, of St. Louis, Missouri, for appellees.
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