Abbey v. Wyeth

Case Information

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS WESTERN DIVISION

: MDL DOCKET NO. 4:03-CV-1507-BRW IN RE: : $:$ PREMPRO PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION : ALL CASES

ORDER

Pending are Defendants' Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings (Doc. Nos. 3082, 3087). Plaintiffs have responded ^[1] and Defendants have replied. ^[2] The parties presented oral argument at a July 20, 2012 hearing. ^[3]

Defendants, manufacturers of generic hormone replacement drugs, assert that PLIVA, Inc. v. Mensing, ^[4] preempts any strict liability failure to warn claim against Defendants. Additionally, Defendants contend that the reasoning in Mensing would foreclose any design defect claims. Plaintiffs disagree, and request that, at the very least, they be permitted to amend their complaints.

At this point, it seems to me that permitting the plaintiffs leave to amend their complaints is reasonable. Accordingly, the plaintiffs whose cases are listed in Exhibit A must amend their complaints within three weeks of the date of this Order -- this is plenty of time considering that the request to amend complaints should have been made months, if not years, ago.

After a cursory review of several of the complaints in these cases, it appears that many make only basic failure to warn claims and are devoid of the claims Plaintiffs' counsel posited at

the July 20, 2012 hearing. If a plaintiff does not amend her complaint by the deadline, Defendants may refile their motion for judgment on the pleadings in the individual case. Word to the wise: If a plaintiff fails to amend her complaint, and Defendants again seek dismissal, it is unlikely that I will again allow the plaintiff leave to amend her complaint.

Additionally, each amended complaint must set out, in plenary detail, the factual basis for the plaintiff's claims. For example, if the plaintiff is asserting "off-label promotion," the complaint must set out sufficient facts to support this claim. In other words, the specific who, what, when, and where will be required (considering that Plaintiffs have been accumulating discovery against Defendants for nearly 10 years, this requirement is reasonable). Each plaintiff also will be required to show, with specificity, how she was directly affected by each Defendant's conduct. Generally claiming that Defendants practiced "off-label promotion" will be considered insufficient, and may result in dismissal of the case.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of fact and conclusions of law above, Defendants' Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings (Doc. Nos. 3082, 3087) are DENIED without prejudice. Plaintiffs are permitted to amend their individual complaints as set out above.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 11th day of September, 2012. /s/ Billy Roy Wilson UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

EXHIBIT A

Scott, Patsy Lund, Judy Gallegos, Margaret Mesojedec, Ann Marie Brown, Nona Glier, Nancy Watson, Patricia Jenkins, Linda Lopez, Amada Trinnaman, Mary Alexander, Janet Cheltra, Denise M. Anderson, Darlene Kay Barnard, Avis Trommer, Edith Kiss, Marie S. Griggs, Esther R. Tsubota, Elaine Baker, Carol Newman, Beverly Clouser, Mary J. Lawson, Barbara Lee, Darlene Herman, Linda Dye, Susan Posey, Janelle Palomo, Olivia Indyk, Rebeca McMurray, Elaine Daly, Eleanor Shareff, Karen Weissmer, Willa Mullikin, Virginia Pannell, Deborah Strickland, Sandra Burbridge, Pat Toomey, Janet Andenoro, Janice Paquin, Ethel Campbell, Delores 3:07-CV-00147 4:04-CV-00717 4:04-CV-00723 4:04-CV-00809 4:04-CV-00816 4:04-CV-00899 4:04-CV-00938 4:04-CV-00996 4:04-CV-01068 4:04-CV-01071 4:04-CV-01223 4:04-CV-01294 4:04-CV-01297 4:04-CV-01308 4:04-CV-01620 4:04-CV-01863 4:04-CV-01959 4:04-CV-02212 4:04-CV-02256 4:04-CV-02316 4:05-CV-00075 4:05-CV-00077, 4:11-CV-00101 4:05-CV-00146 4:05-CV-00167 4:05-CV-00195 4:05-CV-00206 4:05-CV-00253 4:05-CV-00380 4:05-CV-00382 4:05-CV-00396 4:05-CV-00406 4:05-CV-00423 4:05-CV-00427 4:05-CV-00498 4:05-CV-00530 4:05-CV-00544 4:05-CV-00549 4:05-CV-00558 4:05-CV-00598; 4:08-CV-01833 4:05-CV-00614

Thompson, Gaye 4:05-CV-00651 Nickle, Lovena 4:05-CV-00657 Spicer, Barbara A. 4:05-CV-00697 Cummings, Morene 4:05-CV-00798 McCormack, Nancy 4:05-CV-00800 Weaver, Mary Jo 4:05-CV-00810 Mason, Barbara 4:05-CV-00832 Amdur, Patricia 4:05-CV-00841 Wilkerson, Shirley 4:05-CV-00910 Shea, Kathryn 4:05-CV-00969 Higginbotham, Carla 4:05-CV-00974 Douglass, Barbara Louise 4:05-CV-01133 Nikolchev, Grigorina 4:05-CV-01245 Anderson, Irene 4:05-CV-01246 Schoenberg, Carol 4:05-CV-01248 Cain, Helen 4:05-CV-01366 Smith, Jo Ann 4:05-CV-01378 Byrd, Laura 4:05-CV-01402 Moisi, Rose 4:05-CV-01404 Anderson, Barbara 4:05-CV-01408 Bowling, Virginia 4:05-CV-01433 Roth, Laura 4:05-CV-01446 Steinert, Minnie 4:05-CV-01516 Beaver, Eula M. 4:05-CV-01573 Miller, Doris 4:05-CV-01575 Blanco, Mercedes G. 4:05-CV-01620 Perotti, Deborah 4:05-CV-01633 South, Mary 4:05-CV-01680 Clark, Sylvia E. 4:05-CV-01754 Keener, Norma 4:05-CV-01793 Kamsch, Carole 4:05-CV-01803 Vernon, Beverly 4:05-CV-01858 Moore, Barbara J. 4:05-CV-01866 Johnson, Deborah E. 4:05-CV-01896 Smith, Helga K. 4:05-CV-01909 Robertson, Darline J. 4:06-CV-00001 Quinn, Marjorie A. 4:06-CV-00050 Hinkle, Joy 4:06-CV-00079 Gorski, Virginia 4:06-CV-00110 Cantwell, Lynn 4:06-CV-00121

Giambrone, Patti H. Engle, Connie Merricks, Lillian P. Wilson, Sharon Ridgeway, Ann

Ford, Linda Brooks, Marilyn Dudley, Ann Stark, Audrey A. Baker, Jacqueline

Trautman, Janet Plowman, Joyce Bolton, Barbara Norwood, Keith Hunter Abbey, Francine

Pick, Roslyn Broussard, Angela Briscoe, Brenda Kaye Guillot, Claudia Barr, Rebecca

Mahoney, Julia Moffett, Linda W. Kell, Rayjeana Naquin, Carol Flint, Mary Jo

Thomas, Jo Anne Goldberg, Marlene Stepp, Onie Lorene Calhoun, Sharon Russell, Barbara

Pinkerton, Bertha L. Lyons, Mary Wright, Bertha Lee Harrison, Carolyn Rosenberry, Mary Verna

Durain, Wanda Duncan, Arizona L. Black, Karen A. Goodman, Donna K. Brownewell, Dorothy 4:06-CV-00160 4:06-CV-00228 4:06-CV-00233 4:06-CV-00240 4:06-CV-00294 4:06-CV-00384 4:06-CV-00403 4:06-CV-00430 4:06-CV-00435 4:06-CV-00441 4:06-CV-00442 4:06-CV-00443 4:06-CV-00493 4:06-CV-00517 4:06-CV-00537 4:06-CV-00581 4:06-CV-00636 4:06-CV-00661 4:06-CV-00697 4:06-CV-00704 4:06-CV-00714 4:06-CV-00722 4:06-CV-00772 4:06-CV-00784 4:06-CV-00793 4:06-CV-00800 4:06-CV-00821 4:06-CV-00873 4:06-CV-00878 4:06-CV-00879 4:06-CV-00881 4:06-CV-00916 4:06-CV-00938 4:06-CV-00940 4:06-CV-00959 4:06-CV-00988 4:06-CV-00993 4:06-CV-01022 4:06-CV-01048 4:06-CV-01049

White-Brown, Margaret D. 4:06-CV-01120 Wojcik, Rosemary S. 4:06-CV-01127 Cavaliere, Geraldine 4:06-CV-01165 Burton, Mary Lou 4:06-CV-01186 Richardson, Lucille 4:06-CV-01193 Willenbrock, Darylle D. 4:06-CV-01200 Campbell, Sylvia 4:06-CV-01219 Cagle, Theda 4:06-CV-01220 Campbell, Bonnie 4:06-CV-01222 Bradley, Mary 4:06-CV-01224 Fortner, Doris 4:06-CV-01252 Derefield, Pamela S. 4:06-CV-01260 Mallin, Beverly 4:06-CV-01282 Hinton, Sarah A. 4:06-CV-01324 Kinser, Frances 4:06-CV-01339 Clement, Joyce 4:06-CV-01345 Martin, Elizabeth A. 4:06-CV-01389 Bikos, Bonnie 4:06-CV-01392 Puzzuole, Margaret 4:06-CV-01398 Sponza, Regina 4:06-CV-01399 Hunter, Shirley A. 4:06-CV-01403 Kagay, Joyce 4:06-CV-01431 Anthony, Sandra 4:06-CV-01433 Zimmerman, Joyce 4:06-CV-01438 Johnson, Sherry 4:06-CV-01443 Neubarth, Marie 4:06-CV-01455 Frank, Francis, Jr. 4:06-CV-01474 Roseman, Charlotte 4:06-CV-01488 Rosenbloom, Susan 4:06-CV-01502 Balis, Nancy A. 4:06-CV-01506 Schultz, Marilyn 4:06-CV-01516 Morgan, Alice 4:06-CV-01555 Sayers, Marjorie 4:06-CV-01564 Koch, Dorothy J. 4:06-CV-01617 Orgel, Lynne 4:06-CV-01645 Chambers, Zona 4:06-CV-01650 Rittenberry, Linda 4:06-CV-01679 Burbach, Julaine 4:06-CV-01696 Tipton, Janice 4:06-CV-01700 Hagstrand, Janet L. 4:06-CV-01712

Prickett, Judy C. Strickland, Anne J. Williams, Sharon J. Kidd, Judith R. Simpson, Arleane

McKnight, Marilyn Battista, Thelma Lonsiak, Kathleen Regan, Peggy Spangler, Edith Payne, Patricia Ann Lopez, Melissa Anderson, Carolyn Snyder, Debbie Tangman, Frances Williams, Christine S. McCune, Lavon Kota, Miriam Nussbaum, Gale Harding, Joann D. Dale, Jane R. Kirschstein, Janet McMichael, Linda Irwin, Vivian Stolbun, Judith Greer Mills, Stanley Scott, Toni Turner, Mildred Miller, Joan P. Payne, Patty Johnson, Eloise Kielty, Cheryl Smylie, Carol Okon, Marilyn Jewell, Paula Draper, Helen Amador, Silvia Barnes, Marita A. Chen, Margaret L. Archbold, Sharon 4:07-CV-00090 4:07-CV-00093 4:07-CV-00095 4:07-CV-00100 4:07-CV-00126 4:07-CV-00156 4:07-CV-00189 4:07-CV-00211 4:07-CV-00232 4:07-CV-00251 4:07-CV-00321 4:07-CV-00323 4:07-CV-00332 4:07-CV-00340 4:07-CV-00419 4:07-CV-00427 4:07-CV-00430 4:07-CV-00467 4:07-CV-00469 4:07-CV-00478 4:07-CV-00558 4:07-CV-00653 4:07-CV-00655 4:07-CV-00731 4:07-CV-00816 4:07-CV-00884 4:07-CV-01078 4:08-CV-00035 4:08-CV-00062 4:08-CV-00185 4:08-CV-00290 4:08-CV-00402 4:08-CV-00443 4:08-CV-00462 4:08-CV-00617 4:08-CV-00699 4:08-CV-00779 4:08-CV-00864 4:08-CV-01268 4:08-CV-01288

Fisher, Terri L. 4:08-CV-01393 Peterson, Sandra 4:08-CV-01687 Shanle, Sheila 4:08-CV-01793 Reddy, Jeanne Marie 4:08-CV-01811 Redman, Virginia 4:08-CV-01816

Weaver, Brenda 4:08-CV-01848 Nichols, Linda 4:08-CV-01856 Costa, Frances 4:08-CV-01860 Shuckhart, Mary 4:08-CV-01876 Weaver, Rise L. 4:08-CV-01999

Blaisdell, Norman 4:08-CV-02116 Marshall, Valerie A. 4:08-CV-02188 Weaver, Rita 4:08-CV-02313 Kropf, Karen Leanne 4:08-CV-02314 McCarthy, Cynthia 4:08-CV-02388

Cook, Carol L. 4:08-CV-02413 Jenkins, Gwendolyn 4:08-CV-02514 Barnett, Jacklynn 4:08-CV-02695 Sands, Joyce 4:08-CV-02745 Geiser, Dorothy 4:08-CV-02787

Schlenk, Lois 4:08-CV-02796 Estell, Shirley 4:08-CV-03119 Reed, Mae Frances 4:08-CV-03121; 4:09-cv-00132 Bumpas, Vickie E. 4:08-CV-03167 Johann, Apollonia 4:08-CV-03178

Beaver, Donna 4:08-CV-03204 McLain, Judy 4:08-CV-03207 Hauptert, Karen 4:08-CV-03211 Weinfurtner, Carol 4:08-CV-03213 Kaiser, Barbara J. 4:08-CV-03237

Crestelle, Carole 4:08-CV-03333 Jones, Sharon Lee 4:08-CV-03338 Hill, Jeanne 4:08-CV-03339 Kurinko, Ann Marie 4:08-CV-03340 Blattl, Kurt 4:08-CV-03358

Hicks, Mary E. 4:08-CV-03523 Woods, Dorothy 4:08-CV-03548 Finn, Kathleen 4:08-CV-03560 Morgan, Nancy 4:08-CV-03572 Alvarran, Bonnie 4:08-CV-03631

Sanford, Glenda ..... 4:08-CV-03671 Burton, Sharon ..... 4:08-CV-03677 Carter, Linda ..... 4:08-CV-03690 Hennin, Pat ..... 4:08-CV-03699 Cornell, Nancy ..... 4:08-CV-03723 Goodman, Lorraine ..... 4:08-CV-03777 Humphreys, Nancy ..... 4:08-CV-03833 Mayo, Mary ..... 4:08-CV-03905 Roy, Thelma ..... 4:08-CV-03913 Saunders, Doris ..... 4:08-CV-03923 Scarbro, Frances ..... 4:08-CV-03927 Scott, Minnie ..... 4:08-CV-03932 Mitchell, Iva ..... 4:08-CV-03985 Utt, Brenda ..... 4:08-CV-04017 Poe, Sharon ..... 4:08-CV-04087 Midili, Denise ..... 4:09-CV-00059 Huff, Beverly C. ..... 4:09-CV-00103 Frambs, Geraldyne ..... 4:09-CV-00741 Mackiewicz, Kerma ..... 4:09-CV-00748 Whatley, Ernest Joe ..... 4:10-CV-00128 Cox, Marsha ..... 4:10-CV-00285 Turk, Jean ..... 4:10-CV-00291 Banks, Linda ..... 4:10-CV-00350 Steele, Carolyn ..... 4:10-CV-00370 Bledsoe, Shirley ..... 4:10-CV-00421 Plain, Diane ..... 4:10-CV-00435 Langren, Roberta ..... 4:10-CV-00438 Knutson, Linda ..... 4:10-CV-00457 Slaton, Mary ..... 4:10-CV-00461 Baker, Mary ..... 4:10-CV-00464 Green, Kenneth ..... 4:10-CV-00465 Hart, Marlene ..... 4:10-CV-00475 Evosevich, Felecisima ..... 4:10-CV-00478 Walton, Doris ..... 4:10-CV-00505 Geneve, Barbara ..... 4:10-CV-00542 Williams, Lucille ..... 4:10-CV-00569 Hansmann, Kathleen ..... 4:10-CV-00578 Lopez, Delfina ..... 4:10-CV-00587 Kerns, Margie ..... 4:10-CV-00600 Krcmarik, Janet ..... 4:10-CV-00601

| Oberg, Jeanne | 4:10-CV-00602 | | :--: | :--: | | Sargent, Patricia | 4:10-CV-00605 | | Walther, Rose | 4:10-CV-00609 | | Sundall, Kathleen | 4:10-CV-00611 | | Ely, Carol | 4:10-CV-00619 | | Vincent, Sandra | 4:10-CV-00620 | | Lindsay, Helen | 4:10-CV-00626 | | Winfield, Cynthia | 4:10-CV-00629 | | Mehr, Jeanette | 4:10-CV-00632 | | Erickson, Roberta | 4:10-CV-00649 | | Wilson, Evie | 4:10-CV-00656 | | Foster, Thressa | 4:10-CV-00669 | | Garcia, Gloria | 4:10-CV-00681 | | Genco, Lucille | 4:10-CV-00682 | | Ferguson, Sandra | 4:10-CV-00683 | | Bell, Greg | 4:10-CV-00685 | | Clausen, Lois | 4:10-CV-00687 | | McGilvray, Anne | 4:10-CV-00782 | | King, Marilyn | 4:10-CV-00792 | | Grossman, Herbert | 4:10-CV-00797 | | Cox, Carolyn | 4:10-CV-00798 | | Hagle, Irene | 4:10-CV-00805 | | Swanson, Mary | 4:10-CV-00813 | | Johnson, Barbara | 4:10-CV-00817 | | Fornberg, Loretta | 4:10-CV-00818 | | Kirchhoff, Rose | 4:10-CV-00823 | | Holden, Kathleen | 4:10-CV-00827 | | Cassidy, Theresa | 4:10-CV-00828 | | Sivils, Sharon | 4:10-CV-00830 | | Tallent, Patricia | 4:10-CV-00839 | | Beedle, Joyce | 4:10-CV-00842 | | Bolster, Sharon | 4:10-CV-00846 | | Allgood, Tanya | 4:10-CV-00848 | | Sedwick, Mary | 4:10-CV-00871 | | Wille, Lois | 4:10-CV-00886 | | Brandt, Judith | 4:10-CV-00890 | | Gouge, Delores | 4:10-CV-00891 | | Jacquemart, Sharron | 4:10-CV-00912 | | Bussart, Norma | 4:10-CV-00921 | | Moore, John | 4:10-CV-00922 |

| Meranto, Oneida | 4:10-CV-00923 | | :--: | :--: | | Fields, Dorothy | 4:10-CV-00926 | | Gordon, Sharon | 4:10-CV-00933 | | Wood, Ann M. | 4:10-CV-00935 | | Mangan, Beverly | 4:10-CV-00941 | | Provasnik, Judith | 4:10-CV-00955 | | Anglin, Linda | 4:10-CV-00988 | | Dahlman, Emma Louise | 4:10-CV-00989 | | Weddle, Georganne | 4:10-CV-00992 | | Raatz, Dixie | 4:10-CV-01018 | | Marcus, Sandra | 4:10-CV-01021 | | Beylen, Joan | 4:10-CV-01029 | | Contreras, Sandra | 4:10-CV-01030 | | Howard, Carolyn | 4:10-CV-01034 | | Stanionis, Lee | 4:10-CV-01035 | | Gilmore, Sheila | 4:10-CV-01039 | | Crane, Livia Salazar | 4:10-CV-01040 | | Sherril, Janie | 4:10-CV-01041 | | Grossman, Shirley | 4:10-CV-01042 | | Meiller, Jean | 4:10-CV-01046 | | Sain, Sudarshain | 4:10-CV-01060 | | Struckmann, Jean A. | 4:10-CV-01061 | | Knobel-Besa, Penny | 4:10-CV-01063 | | Dasen, Paula | 4:10-CV-01080 | | Denney, Marge | 4:10-CV-01212 | | Guerra, Rosemary | 4:10-CV-01214 | | Owen, Joyce | 4:10-CV-01236 | | Wynkoop, Joanne | 4:10-CV-01239 | | Martin, Rose | 4:10-CV-01241 | | Owens, Evelyn | 4:10-CV-01267 | | Mosely, Patty Ann | 4:10-CV-01272 | | Thomas, Sharon | 4:10-CV-01286 | | Trout, Geraldine | 4:10-CV-01289 | | Onody, Marilyn | 4:10-CV-01298 | | Krueger, Ruth | 4:10-CV-01306 | | Friedberg, Carolyn | 4:10-CV-01313 | | DeBell, Alma | 4:10-CV-01317 | | Miner, Nola Jean | 4:10-CV-01324 | | Facer, Kelleen | 4:10-CV-01347 | | Funk, Judith | 4:10-CV-01351 |

| Zand, Tabandeh | 4:10-CV-01360 | | :-- | :-- | | Peterson, Darlene | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-01363$ | | Unlandt, Leena | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-01428$ | | Hudman, Dorothy M. | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-01576$ | | Williams, Mary Ann | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-01583$ | | Lininger, Linda | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-01617$ | | Polk, Geneva | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-01618$ | | Nichols, Ginger G. | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-01620$ | | Ryan, Faye | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-01625$ | | Rackle, Karen | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-01627$ | | Robbins, Ruby | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-01676$ | | Pitsinger, Muriel | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-01701$ | | Gattis, Melissa | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-02020$ | | Weber, Jane S. | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-02049$ | | Belnap, Gary | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-02074$ | | Westerfield, Arlene | $4:10-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-02081$ | | Boles, Dorothy | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00096$ | | Eden, Barbara | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00097$ | | Grobstein, Elaine | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00098$ | | Hruska, Judith | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00100$ | | Clark, Charlotte A. | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00109$ | | Johnson, Carole | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00110$ | | Weiford, Marjorie | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00111$ | | Fields, Jo Ann | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00113$ | | Monroe, Rosie | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00131$ | | Terry, Carol Jane | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00132$ | | Whatley, Dolores | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00203$ | | Weymouth, Genevieve | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00293$ | | Mari, Linda | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00322$ | | Riegle, Virginia A. | $4:11-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00787$ | | Cline, Carolyn | $4:12-\mathrm{C}\mathrm{V}-00340$ |

NOTES

${}^1$ Doc. Nos. 3094, 3095.

${}^2$ Doc. No. 3102.

${}^3$ Doc. No. 3106.

${}^{4}131$ S. Ct. 2567 (2011).

Case Details

Case Name: Abbey v. Wyeth

Court Name: District Court, E.D. Arkansas

Date Published: Sep 11, 2012

Docket Number: 4:06-cv-00537

Court Abbreviation: E.D. Ark.