United States v. 22 Rectangular or Cylindrical Finished Devices

941 F. Supp. 1086, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15175
CourtDistrict Court, D. Utah
DecidedJune 26, 1996
DocketCivil No. 86-C-486G
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 941 F. Supp. 1086 (United States v. 22 Rectangular or Cylindrical Finished Devices) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Utah primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. 22 Rectangular or Cylindrical Finished Devices, 941 F. Supp. 1086, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15175 (D. Utah 1996).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

J. THOMAS GREENE, District Judge.

On January 29-30, 1996, a bench trial was held on the court’s order to show cause why [1088]*1088defendants should not be held in criminal contempt for violation of the court’s permanent injunction issued in 1989 and its Injunction Order issued in 1994. The government was represented by Jacqueline H. Eagle and David J. Horowitz. Defendants were represented by Robert L. Booker. The parties submitted evidence and presented final arguments after which the parties were permitted to file post trial memorandums. The case was submitted for decision and taken under advisement upon submission of the post trial filings.

Now being fully advised, the court makes and enters its Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Background of this Action

1. This case first came before the court on June 5,1986, when the United States filed a civil seizure action under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) against devices marketed for use in sterilizing surgical instruments (STER-O-LIZERs or sterilizers) sold by the Halogenic Products Company.

2. On July 27, 1987, the government amended the complaint to add as defendants Tim Themy-Kotronakis (Themy) and the Halogenic Products Company and to seek, in addition to the condemnation of the devices, injunctive relief against these defendants.

3. On January 12, 1989, the Court, concluding that the seized STER-O-LIZERs were devices within the meaning of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 321(h), which were adulterated under 21 U.S.C. § 360j(f)(l)(A) and misbranded under 21 U.S.C. § 352(o), granted summary judgment to the government. U.S. v. 22 Rectangular or Cylindrical Devices, 714 F.Supp. 1159, 1167 (D.Utah 1989).

4. At the same time, the Court condemned the devices and ordered that an injunction issue.

The 1989 Injunction Order

5. On March 16, 1989, the Court entered its Judgment and Decree of Condemnation and Injunction (1989 Order).

6. Paragraph IX of the 1989 Order contains the following provisions relevant to this contempt action:

IX. ... the defendants, Themy and Halogenic, and each of the corporate defendant’s officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns, and any and all persons in active concert or participation with them, are hereby perpetually restrained and enjoined from directly or indirectly doing any of the following acts:
A. Introducing or causing the introduction into interstate commerce of any device, or holding for sale any device after shipment of one or more of its components in interstate commerce, unless and until:
1. The methods, facilities, and controls for manufacturing, processing, packing, storing and labeling devices are established operated, and administered in conformity with FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practice Regulations, 21 CFR Part 820;
3. A DHHS representative inspects the defendants’ facilities____and
4. The FDA notifies the defendants in writing that the defendants appear to be incompliance with the Good Manufacturing Practice Regulations, 21 CFR Part 820.

The 199If Injunction Order

7. In March 1994, the government moved this Court to reopen and modify the 1989 injunction on the grounds that Themy, now operating under the auspices of Brinecell, Inc. (“Brinecell”), was manufacturing, promoting, and actually using a new device, the AIDS Treating Machine, to treat patients.

8. In March 1994, the government gave notice and defendants consented and acquiesced therein that it intended to seek modification and to revise the 1989 injunction to make it absolutely clear that the injunction and order extends to all untested and unapproved devices produced by the defendants, including the AIDS Treating Machine. The government made it clear that it intended to seek to prohibit the defendants from distrib[1089]*1089uting and holding devices for sale until they are in compliance with current good mafiufaeturing practice [CGMP] regulations, 21 C.F.R. Part 820, and until the defendants have obtained the necessary approval from FDA.

9. On July. 6, 1994, this Court signed an Injunction Order amending the 1989 injunction (1994 Order), which contains the following relevant provisions:

I. Except as explicitly stated in paragraph VI herein [providing for costs of inspections], this decree supplements but does not supersede the Order of Permanent Injunction entered in this case on March 16, 1989 (“the March 16, 1989 Order”), which Order is otherwise unaffected by this decree and remains in effect.
II. This decree applies only to articles that are intended for use, as defined in 21 C.F.R. §§ 201.128 [for drugs] and 801.4 [for devices], in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or intended to affect the structure or function of the body of man, within the meaning of 21 U.S.C. §§ 321(g) [for drugs] and 321(h) [for devices]. Intended use under 21 U.S.C. is determined by the objective intent of the manufacturer or vendor as set forth in 21 C.F.R. §§ 201.128 and 801.4.

10. The 1994 Order enjoins the defendants from, among other things, directly or indirectly doing or causing to be done any of the following acts:

Manufacturing, processing, labeling, packing, promoting, distributing, or holding for sale the AIDS Treating Machine or any other article of device intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or intended to affect the structure or function of the body of man, within the meanings of 21 U.S.C. § 321(h), unless and until defendants have obtained premarket approval from the FDA, as required by 21 U.S.C. § 360e, or an exemption pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 360(g) and 21 C.F.R. Part 812.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

United States v. Themy-Kotronakis
140 F.3d 858 (Tenth Circuit, 1998)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
941 F. Supp. 1086, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15175, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-22-rectangular-or-cylindrical-finished-devices-utd-1996.