United States v. 216 Bottles, More or Less

36 F.R.D. 695, 9 Fed. R. Serv. 2d 33, 1965 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9994
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 21, 1965
DocketNo. 64-M-900
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 36 F.R.D. 695 (United States v. 216 Bottles, More or Less) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. 216 Bottles, More or Less, 36 F.R.D. 695, 9 Fed. R. Serv. 2d 33, 1965 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9994 (E.D.N.Y. 1965).

Opinion

BARTELS, District Judge.

This is an action in rem arising under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C.A. § 301 et seq. (“Act”), instituted by the Government by (1) filing a Libel of Information in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, for the purpose of seizing certain cartoned bottles of an article labeled in part as “Sudden Change by Lanolin Plus” and also certain pieces of promotional material, and (2) obtaining a decree of condemnation of the seized article upon the ground that the same is a “drug” within the meaning of 21 U.S.C.A. § 321(g)(3) and was introduced into interstate commerce in violation of the provisions of the Act. The Government charges that “Sudden Change” (i) is a “new drug” under 21 U.S.C.A. § 321 (p) introduced into interstate commerce in violation of 21 U.S.C.A. § 355(a); (ii) is misbranded under 21 U.S.C.A. § 352(a), in that the labeling contains false and misleading statements as to its effectiveness to eliminate wrinkles and to provide a face lift without surgery; and (iii) its label fails to bear the established name of each active ingredient as required by 21 U.S.C.A. § 352(e) (l)(A)(ii). Hazel Bishop, Inc., a New York corporation, intervened, alleging ownership of the article seized, and filed an answer admitting interstate shipment and alleging that the article is a cosmetic which has a temporary cosmetic effect upon wrinkles, but denying any misbrand-ing or violation of the Act, and thereafter removed the action for trial to this district.

As part of the discovery proceedings in this action, the Government served Hazel Bishop, Inc., the claimant, with 57 written interrogatories, to 28 of which the claimant filed objections. As to these objections the claimant has classified the interrogatories into categories to which the objections are applicable and they will therefore be considered accordingly as far as practicable.

I

Objections to Libelant’s Interrogatories 3,11,17,18,19, 29(a) and (c), and S3.

These interrogatories, in substance, seek details with respect to the releases, advertisements and over-all promotional program employed to advance the sale and distribution of the article “Sudden Change” regardless of whether such material related to the specific article seized in Miami. The claimant objects to these interrogatories upon the ground that they are not restricted to the specific lot of “Sudden Change” seized in Miami, asserting that the seized articles are the subject matter of the proceeding and that the test of relevancy is accord-! ingly restricted to that unit. Therefore, the claimant argues that its advertisements and program concerning the same article at times and places other than the seizure of the article in Miami are not involved in the case and hence are irrelevant.

Rule 26(b), Fed.Rules Civ.Proc., 28 U. S.C.A., which governs the scope of the interrogatories under Rule 33, permits inquiry as to “any matter, not privileged, which .is relevant to the subject matter involved in the pending action * * * ”. Such inquiry is not limited to the precise, issues framed by the pleadings. Payer, Hewitt & Co. v. Bellanca Corp., D.Del. 1960, 26 F.R.D. 219; 4 Moore’s Federal Practice (Second Edition) 1950, 133.15, p. 2296. The subject matter of this suit. as determined by the libel and the answer • is the violation of the Act by the accused article. The offense charged is not limited to the article seized but includes the article wherever and whenever it has been introduced into interstate commerce • in violation of the Act. This proceeding is not an in rem action in the traditional and admiralty sense of the phrase, after the initial seizure. “The important thing is not the classification but what is the object of the action”. Fraser, Actions [699]*699in Rem, 34 Cornell L.Q. 29, 30 (1948). •After the seizure the proceedings assume the character of an ordinary law suit. 443 Cans of Frozen Egg Product v. United States, 1912, 226 U.S. 172, 33 S.Ct. 50, 57 L.Ed. 174; United States v. Arizona Canning Co., 10 Cir.1954, 212 F.2d 532. Further, any determination in this proceeding is res judicata in a subsequent injunction action against the claimant under the misbranding provisions of the Act. United States v. Nysco Laboratories, Inc., E.D.N.Y.1963, 215 F.Supp. 87, aff’d, 2 Cir., 318 F.2d 817. Consequently, seizure of the article by libel is simply a convenient device or method of initiating the action and in no way differentiates the discovery proceedings therein from those of an ordinary law suit. For instance, in cases of this type tests and opinions predicated upon units other than those seized are clearly admissible into evidence. United States v. One Device, More or Less, The Ellis Micro-Dynameter, E.D.Pa.1963, 224 F.Supp. 265; United States v. 47 Bottles, More or Less, Jenasol, etc., 3 Cir.1963, 320 F.2d 564. Likewise, consumers of the unseized articles, wherever they may be, are permitted to testify as to the •results which they experienced from using the article. United States v. 18 Cases * * * Barton’s Cannibalism Remedy, Kleinfeld & Kaplan, Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1958-1960, p. 153 (D.Oregon 1955). If the claimant wishes to contend that the unseized articles are different in composition or effectiveness from the seized article, it will have an opportunity to do so by its own discovery proceedings or by proof at the trial. In the meantime, to limit inquiry to the article seized would be to sterilize the meaning of the words “subject matter” and emasculate the effect of Rule 33.

Advertisements, catalogs, circulars, displays and other promotional material ■wherever used, are relevant to ascertain the purpose and intended use of the product as well as the meaning of the labels. Research Laboratories, Inc. v. United States, 9 Cir.1948, 167 F.2d 410; United States v. 39 Bags, More or Less, Elip Tablets, E.D.N.Y.1957, 150 F.Supp. 648. Names and addresses of persons having knowledge of the effectiveness and safety of the product based upon their experience, are equally relevant. United States v. 18 Cases * * * Barton’s Cannibalism Remedy, supra. However, the reason the models were rejected or selected as required by interrogatory 11 and inquiries concerning manufacture, sale and distribution and promotional material relating to products other than but similar to “Sudden Change” as required by interrogatories 17 and 29(a) and (c) are irrelevant and are therefore disallowed.

II

Objections to Libelant’s Interrogatories h, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

These interrogatories seek the chemical ingredients of the formula or composition of “Sudden Change”. The objections are based upon the contention that “Sudden Change” is a cosmetic, not a drug, and that the law does not require (1) a cosmetic manufacturer to reveal the ingredients of the formula of the cosmetic upon. its labels or elsewhere, nor (2) authorize the Food and Drug Administration to require such manufacturer to make such disclosure and hence the ingredients are irrelevant to the subject matter of the suit. The claimant further states that the formula is a trade secret but admits that it is not protected by any absolute privilege. United States v. 48 Jars, More or Less, etc., D.C.D.C.

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36 F.R.D. 695, 9 Fed. R. Serv. 2d 33, 1965 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9994, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-216-bottles-more-or-less-nyed-1965.