Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. v. Eon Labs Manufacturing, Inc.

206 F.R.D. 392, 65 U.S.P.Q. 2d (BNA) 1216, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6490, 2002 WL 531228
District Court, D. Delaware·Decided March 28, 2002·No. No. Civ.A.00-800-JJF·Published·Cited by 5 cases

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

FARNAN, District Judge.

Presently before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Motion To Compel Discovery Materials Improperly Withheld by Eon (D.I.139), and Defendant’s Motion For A Protective Order To Vacate, In Part, A Rule 30(B)(6) Deposition Notice (D.1.121). By its Motion, Plaintiffs seek to compel various categories of documents. (D.I.139). In a recent Memorandum Opinion, the Court granted the portion of Plaintiffs’ Motion (D.I.139) which seeks to compel the production of all documents underlying Defendant’s advice of counsel defense to Plaintiffs’ claim of willful infringement. For the same reasons set forth by the Court in its recent Memorandum Opinion, Defendant’s Motion For A Protective Order (D.I.121), to the extent it seeks to vacate the portions of Plaintiffs 30(B)(6) Deposition Notice which request testimony from Defendant on materials underlying Defendant’s advice [393] of counsel defense, will be denied.1 With regard to the unresolved portions of Plaintiffs’ Motion To Compel (D.I.139) and Defendant’s Motion For A Protective Order (D.I. 121), for the reasons set forth below, Plaintiffs’ Motion To Compel (D.I.139) will be denied and Defendant’s Motion For A Protective Order (D.I.121) will be granted.

I. BACKGROUND

In June 1998, Defendant Eon Labs Manufacturing, Inc. (hereinafter “Eon”) prepared and submitted an application for Federal Drug Administration (hereinafter “FDA”) approval of a cyclosporin-based product intended for sale to transplant patients. (D.I. 145 at 4). On January 13, 2000, the FDA approved Eon’s application. (D.I. 145 at 4).

In an Amended Complaint filed on February 8, 2001, Plaintiffs Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novartis AG, Novartis Pharma AG, and Novartis International Pharmaceutical Ltd. (collectively “Novartis”) brought this action against Eon, alleging, among other things, that Eon infringed Novartis’ United States Patent No. 5,389,382 (hereinafter “ ’382 Patent”).2 (D.I. 145 at 1). During the course of discovery, the parties filed the instant Motions (D.I. 139; D.I. 121).

II. DISCUSSION

A. Whether Documents Responsive To Novartis’ Request Numbers 41 and 47 Should Be Produced, And Whether Testimony on Novartis’ Deposition Topics 8, 9, And 10 Should Proceed

Novartis moves to compel the production of documents in response to its Request Numbers 41 and 47, which seek the following:

Request No. 41: All documents and things relating to or concerning any consideration given to filing and/or the decision to file for FDA approval of any drug product containing cyclosporin, including, without limitation, Eon’s product
Request No. 47: All documents and things relating to or concerning the decision to market, or any consideration given to marketing, a cyclosporin-based composition, a generic version of Neoral®, a generic version of Sandimmune®, and/or Eon’s product.

(D.I. 146, Ex. B at 12, 14). Novartis has also served Eon with a 30(B)(6) Deposition Notice, which seeks testimony along the same lines. Specifically, paragraphs 8, 9, and 10 of Novartis’ 30(B)(6) Deposition Notice request testimony concerning:

8. Any consideration given by Eon to developing or licensing a generic cyclosporin product, including without limitation the decision to license the Eon Product from Hexal.
9. Any consideration given by Eon to filing an AADA or ANDA on a generic cyclosporin product, including without limitation the decision to file an AADA or ANDA on the Eon Product.
10. Any consideration given by Eon to marketing a generic cyclosporin product, including without limitation any consideration given to marketing the Eon Product.

(D.I.122, Ex. A). Novartis contends that the testimony and documents sought by these requests is relevant to the issue of willful infringement. (D.I. 145 at 22). Specifically, Novartis contends that these requests are designed to uncover evidence of Eon’s motivation and timing in deciding to infringe Novartis’ patent. (D.I. 145 at 5). Novartis contends that evidence of the decision-making process employed by Eon is particularly relevant to the issue of willful infringement in this case because Eon decided to file its application with the FDA and market its cyclosporin product before it received the opinion of counsel. (D.I. 145 at 5).

[394] Eon has refused to produce documents in response to Novartis’ Request Numbers 41 and 47, and has filed a Motion For A Protective Order (D.I.121) to vacate paragraphs 8, 9, and 10 of Novartis’ 30(B)(6) Deposition Notice. Eon contends that these requests seek discovery on matters not relevant to this litigation. (D.I. 152 at 2). Specifically, Eon contends that its consideration to market or file for FDA approval products which are not the subject of this litigation are neither relevant to nor probative of its decision to market the allegedly infringing product. (D.I. 152 at 2).

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(1), the Court may order discovery for good cause “on any matter relevant to the subject matter involved in the action.” Fed. R.Civ.P. 26(b)(1).

The Court agrees with Eon and finds that the discovery sought by Novartis’ Request Numbers 41 and 47 and paragraphs 8, 9, and 10 of Novartis’ 30(B)(6) Deposition Notice does not pertain to the subject matter of this litigation. The only allegedly infringing product in this litigation is Eon’s cyclosporin capsules. Thus, Eon’s consideration of possible alternatives in a business context to its cyclosporin capsules is not “subject matter” within the scope of discovery. Accordingly, the Court will deny Novartis’ Motion To Compel (D.I.139) to the extent it seeks documents responsive to request numbers 41 arid 47, and will grant Eon’s Motion For A Protective Order (D.I.121) to the extent it seeks to vacate paragraphs 8, 9, and 10 of Novartis’ 30(B)(6) Deposition Notice.

B. Whether Eon Is Required To Produce Materials Received From Michael R. Violante

Novartis moves to compel all documents Eon has received from Michael R. Violante, a third-party witness whom Eon contends performed activities in the late 1980s relevant to the validity of the ’382 Patent. (D.I. 145 at 10). During discovery, Eon served a Rule 45 subpoena for documents and a deposition on Mr. Violante. (D.I. 145 at 11). Three days before Mr. Violante’s scheduled deposition, Eon withdrew its subpoena. (D.I. 145 at 11). Prior to Eon’s withdraw of its subpoena, Mr. Viol-ante produced documents to Eon. (D.I. 145 at 11). Novartis contends that Eon has failed to produce all of these documents, and has now filed this Motion To Compel. (D.I. 145 at 11, 28)

In opposition, Eon contends that it has already produced all of the documents it has received from Mr. Violante. (D.I. 152 at 8). Eon further contends that any additional documents it may receive from Mr. Violante will be produced, to the extent that Eon intends to rely on such documents at trial. (D.I. 152 at 8).

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Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. v. Eon Labs Manufacturing, Inc., 206 F.R.D. 392, 65 U.S.P.Q. 2d (BNA) 1216, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6490, 2002 WL 531228 (D. Del. 2002).

206 F.R.D. 392 (Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. v. Eon Labs Manufacturing, Inc.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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