Witt v. Stryker Corporation of Michigan et al

Filing 20

ORDER Dismissing Amended Complaint Without Prejudice. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 12/30/2013. (jw)

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imis d t u eudc
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Def nt The cas w a r m ove fom s a e cour unde di r iy.D .E.1. Thi Cour
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e s e
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di m i ed t or gi Com pl i f f iur t s a e a cl m on A ugus 26, 201 D . 1
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ai . E. 6.
endantH ow m edi now m ove
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t dim i st Am ended Com pl nt
o s s he
ai .
l .LEG AL STAN DAR DS
l

l de di a m oton t di m is,t Cour m us a ptt Compl nts a l ga i
n ci ng
i o s s he
t t cce he
ai ' le tons

astue a consr t m i t lghtm os f a e t t Pl i if SeeM T J v.
r nd
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t avor bl o he a ntf .
lr
D ek b Co/n/ S h. s 4 F. 11 ,1 5 ( 1h Ci. 6) G n a l i t
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s fc e y oft ec ant gh Co r lmil)(t)c nsde a i t t welpla e
ufi inc h ompli , t e u q i ts is o i r ton o he l- e d d
f t alega i ,docum ent centalt orr e e ed i t c pl i , a m a t r
ac ual l tons
s
r o ef r nc n he om a nt nd te s

j iil noie 'LaGr t v Fis Uni Se .I c.35 F. 8 ,8 ( 1hCi.
udcal tc d.
y
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asa . rt on c, n , 8 3d 40 45 1 t r
20 4)
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A c pl ntm us cont n s tand pl n s a em e soft gr
om ai
t
ai hor
ai t t nt
he ounds f t cour '
or he
ts

j idcin,oft c us ofa ton,a ofter le s ug .Fe R.Ci P.8 a .Unde
urs ito
he a e ci nd h eif o ht d.
v. ()
r
t hei e
he ght ned pl ng s anda ds s f t by t Supr m e Cour i Bel A t. Cor v
eadi t r et orh
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e
tn
l l
p.

T
wombly, 0U. 5 4( 00 a As c o vI al55 U. 66 ( 01 ,heemus b
e 55 S. 4 2 7) nd h rh qb , 6 S. 2 2 0)t r
te
i n ug f c st sa e a c am t r le t ti plu i e o ghe f c ' o t c mpli t
' o h a t o t t l i o eif ha s a sbl n t ) a e' f he o a n .
e
Twom bly,550 U . a 570. A.pl ntf m us pl s sc e f t t s
e
S. t
ai if
t ead uf i nt ac s o how r i and
elef
km or t l s and concl i .a f mul c r t i of t el m ent of a ca e of
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1 1.ANA LYSI
1
S

A.Pr em ofParte I nth
obl
is' de i
I i unc ea w ho t i ende def
ts l r
he nt d endant a e i t s ca e. The or gi lCompl nt
s r n hi s
i na
ai
na ed Styker Cor a i a How m edi a. The Am ended Com pl nt contnues t
m
r
por ton nd
c
ai
i
he

s e syl of t c e, but onl addr s es H o m e ca a onl us s t s ngulr
am t e
he as
y
es
w di nd
y e he i a
l ef nda .' The onl m enton of Styke i t H ow m edi i a w holy owned
s e nt'
D
y
i
r r s hat
ca s
l

s b i a y of Sty r D. 1 !1 I t i tnt M oton t Dimis De e a
u sdir
r ke . E. 6 6. n he nsa
i o s s , f nd nt
H owm e ca s a es t Styker has be dr
di t t hat r
en opped f om t s c e.D . 1 n. The
r
hi as
E. 7 1.
brefngsdo notdi cussStyker onet es t syl oft cas i t i t ntM oton,
ii
s
r .N
hel s, he t e he e n he ns a
i

Res
pons a Repl eac na e bot pa tes. M or
e, nd
y h m
h ri
eover t A m e
, he
nded Compl ntdoes
ai
notaddr sStykera t ef e,f l t sa e a cl m a ns St ykerCor aton.
es r
nd, her or ais o t t
ai gai t r
por i
A c di y,t Cour l
cor ngl he
t snds D ef ndant Styke Cor aton m us be dim i s d
e
r r
por i
t
s se

wih tp eud c f rPl itf t pla acam a ans Sty r
t ou rj ie o an if o e d li g i t r ke .
B.Shot
zun Pl ne
eadi

Def
endant corecty poi s i is M oton out t t t A m e d Com pl nt i a
r l
nt n t
i
ha he
nde
ai s
s gun pl ng. Each count begi by i por tng al pr
hot
eadi
ns
ncor a i
1 ecedi pa agr
ng r aphs. The
El ve h Cic t has r pea edl crtci
e nt
r ui
e t y ii zed s
uch pl adi and f
e ng
ound t
hem t vi at
o ol e

Fe e a Rul ofCi lPr c d r 1 b r q rng e c c am t ha e is o pa a r p
d rl e
vi o e u e 0( ) e uii a h li o v t wn r g a h
sai a s pa ae c u t Se cg.M a ua v Sa e ,25 F. d 1 2, 1 4 ( 1h Ci.
ttng e r t o r. e .
gl t
mpl s 6 . 28 28 1 t r
3

2 01. Ac or ngy,t Ame d Co antmus bedimisd wih tprj c a a
0 ) c di l he
nde mpli
t
s se tou eudie s
s gun pl di
hot
ea ng.

C. opnt II Faiuret St e aCl m
f
s -V: l o at
ai
Def nt m oves t di m i s Count 1 V f f l e t s if t pr ous y
enda
o s s
s -1 or aiur o ats y he evi l

des rbed f alpl ng r quiem ent s t f t i Twom bl , 550 U . 544,a I
ci
eder eadi e r
s e orh n
y
S.
nd qbal
,
556 U . 662.
S.
1
.

Cou sIandII. rc Li ii a De i De c
nt
I .Stit ablt nd sgn fe t
y
U nder Fl i lw ,t m a ac ur r of a def tve pr
orda a he nuf t e
ec i
oduc can be hel srcty
t
d ti l

la e frij r ift ma a rrma t pr uc i q si ,i t p o c ha a
ibl o nuy d he nufdu e de he od t n ueton f he r du t s
i
def t t r r i unr s mabl da r , and i t unr as
ect ha ende s t
ea c
y nge ous
f he
e onabl danger
y
ous

c diin i te pr xmae c us o t pli if ij r 'J n n s v B1 Cor ., 181
on to s h o i t a e f he antf s nu y. e nig . C p
'
F.d 1 0,1 55( 1h Ci.1 99 .
3 25 2 1 t r 9 )
Def nt t kes i s w ih t s
enda a
s ue t he econd e em ent as eri t t t A m e
l
s tng ha he
nded
,
Compl nt doe not i iy a de e w ih t pr t si a , t r or t e i no
ai
s
dentf ny f ct t he oshe s nd he ef e, her s
a l ton of a unr s bl dange ous condii . G i
lega i
n
ea ona y
r
ton
ven t D ef nts m oton
hat
enda '
i
r r t adequac of pladi a def ,t s m e a ys s apple t s rct la lt
ega ds he
y
e ng
ect he a
nal i
i s o ti ibiiy

( u 1 a d sgn d f c ( tn 11.
Co nt ) nd e i e e t Co lt 1)
The com pl i m us cont i f ct ale tons a
a nt
t
a n a ual l ga i
boutw ha w as i f ctdef tve
t
n a
ec i
a
bout t pr
he oduc .See G om e v.
t
z

P c,l . 67 F.S pp.2 1 5 1 6 ( D.Fl
/z r nc, 5
u
d 1 9, 1 3 S, a.

z o t im isn a c mpli t i pa t be a e t r we e û o f cua algai ns
o gld s s i g
o a n n r c us he e r ç a t l le to
n
s
ugges i w hatw as i f t def tve a
tng
n ac
kc i bout t pr
he oduc s.' ;Ri e v Wa k r 3 So.d
t ' c . l e , 59 2
)

8 ,8 ( a. DCA l ldim isng p o t la lt c antwhe et pl itf
91 92 Fl 3d
g7s t s s i r ducs i biiy ompli
r he an if

di n a lge fc s s wi g ho t e pr uc wa d f ci ) c Ba ly v Ja s e
d ot le a t ho n w h od t s e e tve ; / ie . n s n
4

Phar aceutc I ,288 Fed.
m
i a, nc.
Appx. 5 6 -08( 1h Ci. 08 ( hol i ac mpli t
97, 07
1 t r20 ) up dng o an
not t t ng c usor alegatons beca e t c
wihsandi oncl y l i
us he ompl nt aleged s ve al s fc
ai
l
e r pecii

po sbl d f cs .
s i e t e t)
The Am ended Com pl i aleges Pl ntf s pr t s w as def tve and
a nt l
ai if
os hesi
ec i

unr asonabl danger i t ti dcont ned unr ona y danger desgn def t s h
e
y
ous n ha t d ai
eas bl
ous i
ec s uc
as pot nta of t Knee t l e afe bei i ant , caus i ba a and l ng,
e i l he
o oos n t r ng mpl ed
e m l nce
ocki
and wasnotr onabl s e asi e
eas
y af
nt nded t be us . . . '!1 A.
o
ed ' 5
The Cour fnds t tt Am ended Com pl nts a l ton t tt pr t i w as
ti
ha he
ai ' lega i ha he oshess
def tve be us i cont ned des gn de e s s h as l e ng i vague a ove br d.
ec i
ca e t
ai
i
f ct uc
oos ni s
nd
r oa

The pr t i i a com pl devi w ihout s fc alega i as t t com pone s
oshes s s
ex
ce; t
peci
l tons
o he
nt
w hi h Pl i ifaleges a e def tve a how t e compone sar def tve, D e e nt
c antf l
r
ec i nd
hos
nt e ec i
f nda
c
annota w er A com pl ntmus c ai m or f t ast wha exacty Pl ntf alege
ns .
ai
t ont n
e ac s o
t
l ai if l s
i t def t pr e i t pr t i al
s he
ec es nt n he oshess, ong w ih s fci nt alega i of al ot r
t ufi e
l tons
l he
el e sofsrctlabiiy a des gn def t
em nt
t i i lt nd i
ec .
i.
i

CountI Faiur t ' V?
I: l e o F/ I

t'' esabls srctla lt f f l e t w ar pl i ifm us pr t tdef nt
t o t ih t i i biiy or aiur o n, a ntf
l
t ove ha enda

( )i a m a a t r r o d srbu o oft pr d t a is ,a ( d d n ta qu t l
a s
nuf cu e r iti t r he o uc t sue nd b) i o de a ey
' r ofapari ul rs t w a known orknow a e i lghtoft gener ly r
wa n
tc ar i k hat s
bl n i
-he
a l ecogni d
ze
a pr lng be t s e ii a m edi al know l
nd evaii
s cintfc nd
c
edge a l e a t tm e of t
vaiabl t he i
he
m anuf
adur and dit i i ' Pi nat v. Gr
e
srbuton.' nchi
aco Chidre s Pr
l n' oduct, I , 390 F.
s nc.

S p. 1 41 1 46 ( . Fl 2 )ctngFe a r vHyu aiMot Co. 71 So.
up 2d 1 , 1 M D. a. 005 ( ii r yo ni
nd
or , 1 2d
5

11 7,1 7 ( a Dit Ct App.l lr ve s d o o h r gr unds795 So.2 1 ( a
6 1 2 Fl . s. .
gg8 te r e n t e o
d 26 Fl .

Dit Ct App. 01 ).
s. .
20 ))
The Am e
nded Compl nt does not ale a f s as t t c ent of any
ai
l ge ny act
o he ont
w a ni gi
r ngs ven. I onl s a est tD ef ntf ied t gi pr
t y t t ha
enda a l o ve operw a ni and t tt
r ngs
ha he
w a ni w e e Si
r ngs r tnadequa e.'E g.D . 1 at 9. Si y s a i t t t w a ni w e e
t'
E. 6
mpl t tng ha he r ngs r

i ufs e onl r cies t el m e s oft s ca e of ac i
ns tci nt y e t he e nt
hi us
ton. The Am e
nded Compl nt
ai
cont ns i uf i i nt de ais a t t f t s r
ai ns fc e
t l s o he ac s ur oundi t e w a ni
ng hes
r ng. W ihout m or
t
e
f t ,a c
ac s ountf f l e t w a n ca
or aiur o r nnotsand.
t
11
1.

CountIV:N e i
glgence

To pr neglgence,a p' ntf m us alege t tt def ntowned t pl ntf
ove
i
l if
ai
t l
ha he enda
he ai if
a dut t de e
y, he f ndantbr hed t tdut a t br h ca ed t pl ntf s dam age
eac
ha
y, nd he eac us he ai if
s.

Se J se Ph ma e tc ,I c, 8F. p' a 60 Fl De to r e ton v Ab i
e an s n ar c uia n .28 Ap x t 9) a. p' fco rci s . rl
,
96 So.d 2 ,2 4-0 ( a20 7 .
9 2 01 0 5 Fl. 0'
)
The Am ended Com pl nts a ts t tD ef
ai t t ha
endantha a dut t Pl ntf t e r s
d
y o ai if o xe cie

r a o bl c r a t wa n o a da e s !5 De e a t br a he t t d y by
e s na e a e nd o r f ny ng r . 2. f nd n e c d ha ut
if lng t exer s due ca e unde t cic s a
saii o
ci e
r
r he r um t nces' and f ied t i ude adequa e
,'
a l o ncl
t

wa ni s ! 4,56.The e a e no f cs a t wha f iur s o c r d,ho t e f iur s
r ng . !5
r r
a t s o t al e c ure w hos a l e
t
ook pl ce or w hy, e cty, Def ndants ac i
a
xa l
e
' tons a e br hes. W ihout m or f ct
r eac
t
e a s
s
uppori t el ent of a neglgenc ca e ofac i t Am ended Compl ntf ist
tng he em s
i e us
ton, he
ai a l o
sa e a cl m f ne i nce.Concl or sat m ent a e i ufs e .
tt
ai or glge
us y t e
s r ns tci nt

D .Count V and V I Breach ofExpre and I pled W ar
s
:
ss
m i
rantes
i

De e n mo s t d s s Cou s V ( e c of Exp e s W a r n y a d VI
fnda t ve o imis nt
Br a h
rs
ra t ) n
( e c ofI le W a r nt f r lc ofp i iy, The Cou ta kn t e t t s me
Br a h mp id ra y) o a k
rv t
r c owldg s ha o
Fl i cour s di tnguih t prviy r r m e s f expr s a i ple w a r i .
orda
t s i s he i t equie nt or
e s nd m i d r antes

Se eg. t v Wm.Wrgly A .Co. 6 F.S p. 1 6,1 42 ( D. a 200 ) The
e . Smih .
ie
, 63 up 2d 33 3 S. Fl. 9 .
Cour i no pe s
t s t r uade by t e a gum e s and fnds t prviy i r r f bot
d
hos r
nt
i
hat i t s equied or h
i pled a e es war ant c ai s.See e. ., Fi ds v.Myl Phar . I ,751 F.Supp.
m i nd xpr s r y l m
g el
an
m , nc.

2 1 ,1 9 ( D.Fl 00 . F. M v Me ian M e S . I c. 8 6 F.Su p.8
d 257 25 N. a.2 9' M
j
;
. rc
d. ys, n , 8
p 42,
8 4 ( D. a 1 )( ii Fl i c s lw)
4 N. Fl . 995 ctng orda a e a .
The Am e
nded Com pl n' cont ns no f t es a i hi prviy bet ee Pl ntf
ai t
ai
ac s t bls ng i t
w n ai if
and D e e
f ndant Thus,t c ai s f br h of expr s a i pled w a r y m us be
.
he l m or eac
es nd m i
r ant
t

dimis dwiho tp eudiet pla prvi
s se t u rj c o e d i t
y.
Pl i ips l r i e m edi r a gum entdoes notdef tt pr viy r r ent
a ntf ea ned nt r
ay r
ea he i t equiem .
l s
n uppor oft br
t he each ofw a r nt cl i s Pl ntf ar
r a y a m , ai i f guest t s a
ha he dequa el pl t
t y ed he
dut t w a n a t t unde t l r i e m e ar docr ne,t m anuf t er s d y t
y o r nd ha ,
r he ea ned nt r di y
ti he
acur ' ut o
wa n r t t phys c an,nott pa i .Thus,i s m st Pl ntf cont
r uns o he
ii
he tent
t ee hat ai if
endst ts
ha he

nee not alege pr viy beca e of t l r
d
l
it
us
he ea ned i e m edi y doc rne and beca e i i
nt r
ar
ti
us t s
hos t sordoct sw ho pur has t devi t be i pl ed.
pial
or
c e he
ces o
m ant
I Fl i t l r i e m e a y docti per is a m anuf ct t t di c gt
n orda, he ea ned nt r di r
rne m t
a ur r o s har
isdut t war by pr di phys ci wih a
t y o
n
ovi ng
i ans t dequa e i or a i a
t nf m ton boutr s as oci ed
iks s at

wih t i p o uc s Rou ds v Ge z Cor ,440 F.Ap x 7 ,75 - 5 ( 1h Ci.
t her r d t .
n . n yme p.
p' 53 4 5 1 t r

201 )c r.de e 1 S.Ct 1 3,1 2 L.Ed.2d 77 ( S.2 2) Ac o d n y,t
1 e / nid, 32
. 91 8
2 U. 01 . c r i gl he
docti doesnoti plca ecl m s f br ac ofe es and i i w a r ntes.
rne
m i t ai or e h
xpr s
mpled r a i
E.Punii D am aees
tve

D ef nda m oves t di m i s t punii dam ages cl i s f
e nt
o s s he
tve
a m ound i a1 Count
n l
s
bec e Pl ntf f l t s if Fl i r quiem e s f pl ng punii da a .
aus ai if aied o ats y or da e r nt or eadi
tve m ges
Fl i St t e 768. r r a pr f r or r d by cl m ant s i a r as
orda a ur
72 equies
of e
ecor
ai
how ng
e onabl
e
ba i f r
s s or ecove y ofpunii dam ages. The Elve h Cic tha he d,i -l pla i
r
tve
e nt r ui s l tl he e dng
g-

c mp e tofFl rdaStt t sj 68.2 a ei p ia ei f d r ldi r iy c s s'Co n
o on n
o i a u e 7 7 r na plc bl n e e a ve st a e . he
'

vOfleDe I c,1 4F.d 1 2,1 99( 1h Ci.1 9) v c e o ote gr un ,2 4
fc pot n . 8 3 29 2 1 t r 99 , a atd n h r o ds 0
F.d 1 69 ( 1h Ci.2 ) The i sa t c s i br u ht u r t Co ts di r iy
3 0 1 t r 000 .
n t n a e s o g nde he ur' ve st
J i ci
' sdi ton. Ot r cas cied by t pa tes a e s t dicover com ponent of t
ur
he
es t
he ri ddr s he s
y
he
Fl i sat e a hence a e i pplca e.
orda t ut nd,
, r na i bl

Ac o di l Pli tf p ii da g s c amsa e s j c onl t t us l
c r ng y, an ips un tve ma e li r ub e t y o he ua
f alpl di r r e s.2 decii on w het punii dam a ar pr l pa t
tder ea ng equiem nt %
s on
her
tve
ges e opery r
of t s a ton wil depend on t underyi f ct ale tons. Gi n t t al of t
hi c i
l
he
l ng a ual l ga i
ve ha l
he

a v Co t aes j c t dsnisl ar i o punived ma si prmaur a t s
bo e uns r ube t o il sa, ulng n t a ge s e t e t hi
i
sa
t ge.

F.C ount1:D uplc t
i iv

De e da ta s mo st dimisCo nt1( ti tLibiiy)a d plc tveofCo t
f n n lo ve o s s u
S rc a l s u i ai
t
un s
1 ( iu et W a n a II( f c i De i n) Gi n t tCo nt 1 I,a I1c re ty
1 Fal r o r ) nd I De e tve sg . ve ha u s , I nd I u r n l
f lt s a e a cl i ,t is ofduplciy i m oot
ai o t t
am he s ue
it s
.

l .C ON CLU SI N
V
O

A ccor ngl upon a ca ef r vi w of t r cor a t Cour bei ot
di y,
r ul e e
he e d nd he
t ng henvie
s
f l advied,i i O R DERED,ADJU DG ED , and DECR EED asf l
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