Vieira v. Mentor Worldwide, LLC

392 F. Supp. 3d 1117
CourtDistrict Court, C.D. California
DecidedAugust 1, 2019
DocketCase No. CV 19-04939-AB (PLAx)
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 392 F. Supp. 3d 1117 (Vieira v. Mentor Worldwide, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Vieira v. Mentor Worldwide, LLC, 392 F. Supp. 3d 1117 (C.D. Cal. 2019).

Opinion

HONORABLE ANDRÉ BIROTTE JR., UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

Before the Court are two motions filed by the Parties.

Defendants Mentor Worldwide, LLC ("Mentor"), NuSil, LLC, and NuSil Technology, LLC ("NuSil Technology") (collectively, "Defendants") filed a Motion to Dismiss ("MTD," Dkt. No. 12). Plaintiffs Nicole Vieira ("Vieira") and Emilia Barozzi ("Barozzi") (collectively, "Plaintiffs") filed an opposition ("Opp'n.," Dkt. No. 16) and Defendants filed a reply (Dkt. No. 17). The Court heard oral argument on July 12, 2019 and took the motion under submission.

Plaintiffs filed a Motion to Remand (Dkt. No. 18). Mentor opposed the motion (Dkt. No. 24) and filed supplemental authority in support of their opposition (Dkt. No. 26). The Court took the motion under submission on July 31, 2019. For the following reasons, Plaintiffs' Motion to Remand is DENIED and Defendants' Motions to Dismiss is GRANTED .

I. BACKGROUND

This lawsuit revolves around injuries Plaintiffs allegedly suffered after surgically receiving Mentor's MemoryGel Silicone Breast Implants ("MemoryGel Implants"). Plaintiffs plead the following in their First Amended Complaint ("FAC," Dkt. No. 1, Ex. A).

A. The Parties

Vieira is a citizen and resident of Solano County, California. FAC ¶ 1. Barozzi is a citizen and resident of Arapahoe County, Colorado. Id. ¶ 2.

Mentor is a limited liability company incorporated in Delaware with its principal place of business in Santa Barbara, California. Id. ¶ 3. Mentor manufactured the MemoryGel Implants at issue. Id. ¶ 4.

NuSil LLC is a limited liability company incorporated in California with its principal *1124place of business in Carpinteria, California. Id. ¶ 6. NuSil Technology is a limited liability company incorporated in Delaware with its principal place of business in Carpinteria, California. Id. ¶ 7. NuSil LLC and NuSil Technology are silicone raw material suppliers and allegedly manufactured, produced, supplied, and shipped the silicone used in the MemoryGel Implants. Id. ¶ 9.

B. FDA Regulation of Silicone Breast Implants

In 1976, Congress passed the Medical Device Amendments ("MDA") to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ("FDCA"). Id. ¶ 36. Under the MDA, medical devices, such as the MemoryGel Implants, are subject to three classifications and regulated accordingly. Id. ¶ 37. Class I devices require the least and most general oversight, Class II devices are reviewed according to more stringent "special controls," and Class III devices receive the most oversight and require rigorous premarket review and approval. Id. The Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") classified silicone breast implants as Class III devices. Id. ¶ 38. Accordingly, the FDA requires manufacturers to meet certain requirements for Class III devices. Id. On April 10, 1991, the FDA published a final regulation under Section 515(b) of the FDCA requiring that manufacturers of silicone breast implants submit pre-market approval ("PMA") applications with data showing a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the implants by July 9, 1991. Id. ¶ 39.

C. Mentor's FDA Approval

In order to eventually seek PMA for its MemoryGel Implants, Mentor was required to first provide the FDA with sufficient information regarding the safety and efficacy of the medical device. Id. ¶ 46. On December 12, 2003, Mentor submitted a request to the FDA for PMA for its MemoryGel Implants. On November 17, 2006, Mentor received approval subject to certain conditions. Id. ¶¶ 62-63. One of the conditions imposed on Mentor required it to conduct six post-approval studies1 to further characterize the safety and effectiveness of MemoryGel Implants. Id. ¶ 63.

D. Plaintiffs' MemoryGel Procedures

Vieira was implanted with MemoryGel Implants on April 16, 2007. Id. ¶ 19. Vieira alleges that following implantation she developed Hashimoto's disease, experienced fatigue, memory loss, hair loss, light sensitivity, skin rashes, vision issues, numbness, dizziness, nausea, chronic sore throats, chest pain, migraines, joint pain, stiffness and swelling, muscle pain and weakness.2 Id. ¶¶ 20-21. Vieira was unaware as to what triggered her symptoms. Id. ¶ 21. Vieira's injuries caused her to be bedridden; she subsequently moved to her parent's household in Vacaville, California for home care. Id. ¶ 22. On June 27, 2016, Vieira underwent a bilateral explantation of her implants in Los Angeles, California. Id. ¶ 23. A gel bleed was discovered in the right implant during the procedure. Id. Within six months of explantation, Vieira saw relief of approximately 80% of her symptoms and is now in remission from her Hashimoto's disease. Id. ¶ 24.

Barozzi received MemoryGel Implants on April 12, 2012. Id. ¶ 26. Barozzi alleges *1125that following implantation, she developed a rash on her chest and abdomen along with dry eyes and mouth, experienced recurrent sore throats, ear infections, and bladder infections. Id. ¶ 28. Barozzi's pain increased over time. Id. Barozzi also developed rheumatoid arthritis, experienced fatigue, joint pain and stiffness, muscle weakness, memory loss, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, chest pains, itching, nausea, dizziness, numbness, vision issues, light sensitivity, night sweats, metallic taste, poor wound healing, and hair loss. Id. ¶ 27. Barozzi was unaware as to what caused her injuries. Id. ¶ 28. On August 2, 2016, Barozzi underwent a bilateral explantation of her implants. Id. ¶ 29. A gel bleed was discovered during the procedure. Id. ¶ 29. After explantation, various defects were found in Barozzi's implants. Id. ¶ 30.

E. This Action

Plaintiffs filed a FAC in the Los Angeles County Superior Court asserting causes of action for: (1) negligence/negligence per se; (2) failure to warn; and (3) manufacturing defect. Defendants filed a notice of removal in this Court and then filed a motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' FAC pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim. Plaintiffs filed a motion to remand.

II. LEGAL STANDARD

A. Motion to Dismiss Under 12(b)(6)

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 requires a plaintiff to present a "short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Under Rule 12(b)(6), a defendant may move to dismiss a pleading for "failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." Fed. R. Civ. P.

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392 F. Supp. 3d 1117, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vieira-v-mentor-worldwide-llc-cacd-2019.