Shelton v. Medtronic, Inc.

41 F. Supp. 3d 622, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118051, 2014 WL 4203105
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Kentucky
DecidedAugust 22, 2014
DocketNo. 3:13-CV-01054-CRS
StatusPublished

This text of 41 F. Supp. 3d 622 (Shelton v. Medtronic, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shelton v. Medtronic, Inc., 41 F. Supp. 3d 622, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118051, 2014 WL 4203105 (W.D. Ky. 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

CHARLES R. SIMPSON III, Senior District Judge.

This matter is before the court on a motion to remand filed by the plaintiff, Martha Shelton (“Plaintiff’), against the defendants, Medtronic, Inc., Medtronic USA, Inc., Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA, Inc.,1 John Doe # 1, John Doe # 2, Baptist Healthcare System, Inc., Baptist Hospital East (an unincorporated division, ASC of Baptist Healthcare System, Inc.), Baptist Healthcare Affiliates, Inc., and Baptist Medical Associates, Inc.2 (DN 11).

I.

In April and June 2010, Plaintiff underwent two lumbar spinal fusion surgeries that were performed at Baptist Hospital East. During the surgeries, Plaintiffs surgeon used a bioengineered liquid bone graft product known as Infuse Bone Graft. Infuse was allegedly designed, developed, manufactured, promoted, and sold by the Medtronic Defendants. Plaintiff alleges that Infuse is approved by the Federal Drug Administration (“FDA”) for use in a specific type of lumbar fusion surgery, and that the Medtronic Defendants have illegally promoted “off-label” use3 of Infuse. Plaintiff claims that her surgeon used Infuse in such an off-label manner during her surgeries, and she allegedly suffered injuries as a result.

Plaintiff, a citizen of Indiana, filed this action in Jéfferson County Circuit Court on October 25, 2013. (Compl., DN 1-1). In the complaint, Plaintiff asserts eleven state law causes of action against the defendants, including, inter alia, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent omission, concealment and nondisclosure, strict products liability, negligence, breach of warranty, and violation of the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act. In sum, Plaintiff alleges that the Medtronic Defendants actively promoted the use of Infuse in manners not approved by the FDA, concealed the side effects associated with off-label use, and provided misleading information regarding Infuse to consumers and the medical community. Plaintiff seeks punitive and compensatory damages for the damages she allegedly suffered as a result of the off-label use of Infuse during her spinal fusion surgeries.

The Medtronic Defendants removed the case to this court on October 28, 2013, invoking our diversity of citizenship jurisdiction, as well as our federal-question jurisdiction to hear cases “arising under” federal law. (Notice of Removal, DN 1). Plaintiff has moved to remand. (Mot. to Remand, DN 11).

II.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a), a civil action filed in state court is removable [626]*626only if it could have originally been brought in federal court. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a). Thus, “a district court must remand a removed case if it appears that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction.” Chase Manhattan Mortg.. Corp. v. Smith, 507 F.3d 910, 913 (6th Cir.2007). One source of original jurisdiction is diversity of citizenship jurisdiction, which is present only in eases “where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs, and is between ... citizens of different States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a).

A second source of original jurisdiction is federal question jurisdiction, which is present only in cases “arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1331. Such jurisdiction exists where “a well-pleaded complaint establishes either that federal law creates the cause of action or that the plaintiffs right to relief necessarily depends on resolution of a substantial question of federal law” so that “federal law is a necessary element of one of the well-pleaded ... claims.” Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Construction Laborers Vacation Trust, 463 U.S. 1, 13, 27-28, 103 S.Ct. 2841, 77 L.Ed.2d 420 (1983). However, “the plaintiff is the master of the claim,” Caterpillar Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392, 107 S.Ct. 2425, 96 L.Ed.2d 318 (1987), and “the fact that the wrong asserted could be addressed under either state or federal law does not ... diminish the plaintiffs right to choose a state law cause of action.” Alexander v. Electronic Data Sys. Corp., 13 F.3d 940, 943 (6th Cir.1994) (citations omitted).

“A defendant seeking to remove a case to federal court has the burden of proving that the district court possesses jurisdiction.” Williamson v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 481 F.3d 369, 375 (6th Cir.2007) (citation omitted). “All doubts as to the propriety of removal are resolved in favor of remand.” Coyne v. American Tobacco Co., 183 F.3d 488, 493 (6th Cir.1999) (citation omitted).

III.

The Medtronic Defendants assert two grounds on which they claim that this court has jurisdiction. First, they argue that the court has diversity jurisdiction because the parties are diverse and the amount in controversy exceeds the jurisdictional threshold of $75,000. Second, they contend that the court has federal question jurisdiction because Plaintiffs complaint necessarily raises a substantial question of federal law. The court will address each of these contentions in turn.

A.

The Medtronic Defendants argue that diversity of citizenship jurisdiction exists pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Although Plaintiff acknowledges that the parties are diverse, she argues that remand is appropriate because several of the Non-Medtronic Defendants are Kentucky residents and, pursuant to the forum defendant rule, “[a] civil action otherwise removable solely on the basis of the jurisdiction under section 1332(a) of this title may not be removed if any of the parties in interest properly joined and served as defendants is a citizen of the State in which such action is brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 1441(b)(2).4

[627]*627Plaintiff filed her complaint with the Jefferson County Circuit Court on Friday, October 25, 2013. On the following Monday, October 28, 2013, the Medtronic Defendants filed a notice of removal with this court. The Medtronic Defendants contend that the forum defendant rule is inapplicable in the instant action because this notice of removal was filed before any of the Non-Medtronic Defendants were served, thus precluding the application of § 1441(b)(2).

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Bluebook (online)
41 F. Supp. 3d 622, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118051, 2014 WL 4203105, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shelton-v-medtronic-inc-kywd-2014.