Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. et al v. Serenity Pharmaceuticals, LLC et al
Filing
571
OPINION AND ORDER: For the foregoing reasons, Ferring's Letter Motion (ECF No. 557) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED in part. Within 30 days of the date of this Order, Counterclaimants shall produce documents responsive to Categories 5 through 10. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron on 11/1/2019) (kl)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
11/1/2019
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. et al.,
Plaintiffs,
1:17-cv-09922 (CM) (SDA)
-against-
OPINION AND ORDER
Serenity Pharmaceuticals, LLC et al.,
Defendants.
STEWART D. AARON, United States Magistrate Judge:
Plaintiffs Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ferring B.V. and Ferring International Center S.A.
(collectively,
“Ferring”) move
to
compel
Defendants/Counterclaim-Plaintiffs
Serenity
Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Serenity”) and Reprise Biopharmaceutics, LLC (“Reprise”) (collectively,
“Counterclaimants”) to supplement their damages-related document production. (Ferring Letter
Motion, ECF No. 557.)1 For the following reasons, Ferring’s motion is GRANTED IN PART and
DENIED IN PART.
BACKGROUND
This is an action for declaratory judgment by Ferring against two entities formed by Dr.
Seymour Fein — Serenity and Reprise — seeking a declaration that certain of Dr. Fein’s patents
are invalid and unenforceable, and that they are not infringed by Ferring’s product NOCDURNA,
In deciding this motion, the Court has considered Ferring’s Letter Motion, Counterclaimants’ letter
response (Letter Response, ECF No. 559); Ferring’s reply letter (Ferring Letter Reply, ECF No. 560);
Ferring’s discovery requests at issue (Ferring First Req., ECF No. 562-1; Ferring Second Req., ECF No. 5622; Ferring Fourth Req., ECF No. 562-3); Counterclaimants’ supplemental letter (Counterclaimants’
10/25/19 Ltr., ECF No. 566) and Ferring’s supplemental letter. (Ferring 10/29/19 Ltr., ECF No. 567.)
1
which is a product for the treatment of Nocturia. Counterclaimants have asserted counterclaims
against Ferring for patent infringement. 2
This case was commenced with the filing of a Complaint on April 28, 2017. (Compl., ECF
No. 1.) The Complaint later was amended, and Counterclaimants filed their answer and
counterclaims on June 28, 2018. (Answer, ECF No. 101.) The damages sought by
Counterclaimants include royalties on the patents, as well as lost profits. (See Ferring Letter
Motion at 3.) Counterclaimants also seek a permanent injunction against Ferring. (See id.) On
February 6, 2019, Avadel filed a petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of
Delaware seeking relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. (See In Re:
Avadel Specialty Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Case No. 19-10248-CSS (D. Del.).)
Ferring now asserts that “information from Avadel’s bankruptcy shows that
Counterclaimants’ damages-related discovery is incomplete and/or incorrect and needs to be
supplemented pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(e).” (Ferring Letter Motion at 1.) 3
Reprise asserts that it is the owner of the two patents that allegedly are infringed; Serenity asserts that
it is the exclusive licensee of such patents; and Avadel Specialty Pharmaceuticals (“Avadel”), an additional
Counterclaimant, asserts that it is the exclusive sublicensee of such patents.
2
3
As an example, Ferring states:
[A] central theory of Counterclaimants’ damages expert, Dr. Christopher Vellturo, is that a
license agreement between Serenity and Avadel (the ELAA) serves as an appropriate
touchstone for determining a reasonable royalty for the patents in suit. Putting aside other
deficiencies in this analysis, Avadel’s bankruptcy counsel confirmed the terms of the ELAA
are not commercially reasonable, explaining to the Bankruptcy Court that “[t]he ELAA has
very onerous terms, economic terms in there for the debtor [Avadel] and, in fact, arguably,
it’s the entire reason why we’re in Chapter 11 today.” In re Avadel Specialty Pharm., LLC,
Case No. 19-10248-CSS (Bankr. D. Del.), D.I. 140 at 27:6-11. Notably, this statement came
just months after Dr. Vellturo’s expert report, and additional statements from Avadel’s
bankruptcy counsel and Avadel’s executives indicate that Avadel had already began
exploring ways to get out of its obligations under the ELAA before Dr. Vellturo submitted
his expert report.
(Ferring Letter Reply at 1-2 (emphasis in original).)
2
In its Letter Motion, Ferring seeks eleven categories of documents for which it seeks
supplementation. (Ferring Letter Motion at 2.)
In response, Counterclaimants assert that “Ferring’s requests for eleven new categories
of documents . . . are untimely, irrelevant, and no longer ripe in view of events that have
transpired over the last six months.” (Letter Response at 1.) Further, Counterclaimants state that
they “do not have any responsive, non-privileged documents in their possession, custody, or
control that fall into categories 1-6.” 4 (Id. at 2.)
In reply, Ferring states that it is not seeking to reopen discovery and that the duty to
supplement continues after the close of fact discovery. (Ferring Letter Reply at 1.) Ferring also
asserts that the categories of documents it seeks are relevant to issues in the case. (See id. at 23.)
Oral argument was held by telephone on October 21, 2019. (10/21/19 Tr.) Following oral
argument, I directed the parties to make supplemental submissions. (10/21/19 Order, ECF No.
563.) Counterclaimants made their supplemental submission on October 25, 2019.
(Counterclaimants’ 10/25/19 Ltr.) Ferring made its supplemental submission on October 29,
2019. (Ferring 10/29/19 Ltr.)
During oral argument, Counterclaimants stated that they had been narrowly construing Categories 5 and
6 as asking only for “documents related to Avadel’s efforts to find parties to assume some of its rights and
obligations.” (10/21/19 Tr., ECF No. 564, at 5.) If those requests are construed to include materials related
to efforts by Serenity and/or Reprise, then Counterclaimants concede that they have responsive
documents in their possession, custody or control.
4
3
DISCUSSION
I.
Legal Standards
Rule 26(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides:
(e) Supplementing Disclosures and Responses.
(1) In General. A party who has made a disclosure under Rule 26(a)—or who
has responded to an interrogatory, request for production, or request for
admission—must supplement or correct its disclosure or response:
(A) in a timely manner if the party learns that in some material respect the
disclosure or response is incomplete or incorrect, and if the additional or
corrective information has not otherwise been made known to the other
parties during the discovery process or in writing; or
(B) as ordered by the court.
(2) Expert Witness. For an expert whose report must be disclosed under Rule
26(a)(2)(B), the party’s duty to supplement extends both to information
included in the report and to information given during the expert's deposition.
Any additions or changes to this information must be disclosed by the time the
party's pretrial disclosures under Rule 26(a)(3) are due. 5
Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e).
“The duty to supplement continues even after the discovery period has closed.” Star
Direct Telecom, Inc. v. Glob. Crossing Bandwidth, Inc., 272 F.R.D. 350, 358 (W.D.N.Y. 2011)
(citations omitted). As stated by Magistrate Judge Dolinger in a case where the producing party
had argued that it had no duty to supplement after the close of discovery:
The rule, on its face, makes no distinction between information-including
documents-acquired prior to and after the conclusion of fact discovery (or
indeed of any discovery). Moreover, such a distinction could pose a serious
risk of unfairness to the discovering party, since documents created or
acquired after discovery but before trial might entirely undercut the gist of
earlier discovery responses, thus placing the discovering party at a severe and
entirely unfair disadvantage. . . . Not surprisingly, the Advisory Committee
Notes contemplate an approach contrary to that espoused by defendants.
5
Pretrial disclosures under Rule 26(a)(3) are due within 30 days of trial. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3)(B).
4
Thus, the Committee notes that “[s]upplementations need not be made as
each new item of information is learned but should be made at appropriate
intervals during the discovery period, and with special promptness as the trial
date approaches.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e), 1993 Advisory Committee Notes, in
Federal Civil Judicial Procedure and Rules at 151 (West 2000).
Pizza Pub. Co. v. Tricon Glob. Restaurants, Inc., No. 99-CV-12056 (BSJ) (MHD), 2000 WL 1457010,
at *1-2 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 29, 2000). Determining the existence of a duty to supplement under Rule
26(e) is committed to the “sound discretion” of the Court. See Phil Crowley Steel Corp. v.
Macomber, Inc., 601 F.2d 342, 344 (8th Cir. 1979).
II.
Application
A.
Categories 1-4, 7 and 11
Categories 1 to 4 relate to Avadel, and Ferring has an agreement with Avadel that it will
not pursue document production from Avadel. (See Ferring Letter Motion at 3.) Thus, Ferring
only can seek these documents to the extent that they are in the possession, custody or control
of Serenity and/or Reprise. (See id.) Counterclaimants represented in writing (Letter Response at
2-3) and during oral argument (10/21/19 Tr. at 4) that Serenity and Reprise do not have
documents responsive to Categories 1 to 4 in their possession, custody or control. Thus, to the
extent that Ferring seeks to compel production of documents in these categories, its motion is
denied as moot.
Category 7 requests documents “related to the contention of CPEX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(CPEX), that Serenity cannot extend a valid sublicense to CPEX technology.” (Ferring Letter
Motion at 2.) This contention by CPEX, which was “made known to Ferring for the first time in
connection with Avadel’s bankruptcy” (Ferring Letter Reply at 2), suggests that Serenity never
had the ability to partner with other companies to satisfy patient demand. Category 7 directly
5
relates to Ferring’s Document Request No. 48, which seeks: “All Documents and Things
concerning or regarding Serenity and Reprise’s statement that ‘Avadel and Serenity have the
capacity to fully satisfy the demand for patients seeking treatment for nocturia with their
NOCTIVA product’ . . ..” (Ferring Second Req. No. 48, at 10.) Thus, the Court in its discretion
hereby orders, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e)(1)(A) and 26(e)(1)(B), that Counterclaimants
supplement their document production in response to Document Request No. 48 by producing
documents responsive to Category 7.
Category 11 seeks documents “related to Avadel’s allegation that Serenity breached
contractual obligations owed to Avadel, communicated to Serenity on January 27, 2019.” (Ferring
Letter Motion at 2.) Since Ferring has agreed not to obtain document production from Avadel,
and it is Avadel that made the allegation referenced in Category 11, the Court declines to order
any production responsive to this category.
B.
Categories 5-6 and 8-10
The Court addresses these categories together since Counterclaimants addressed them
together in their October 25 letter, which contains arguments as to why they ought not be
compelled to supplement their document productions.6 (Counterclaimants’ 10/25/19 Ltr. at 1.)
Category 5 seeks “[m]aterials related to efforts to find parties to assume some or all of Avadel’s
rights and/or obligations related to Noctiva.” (Ferring Letter Motion at 2.) Category 6 seeks
“[m]aterials related to attempts to find a new manufacturer or to negotiate new terms for the
Counterclaimants also include Category 11 in their analysis of the other categories, but the Court already
has addressed Category 11 above.
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6
manufacture of Noctiva after Avadel rejected the Renaissance Agreements.” (Id.) 7 Category 8
seeks communications between Serenity and/or Reprise and Roivant Sciences GmbH (“Roivant”)8
relating to Noctiva. (Id.) Category 9 seeks “materials related to any negotiations between Avadel,
Serenity, Reprise, and/or Roivant concerning Noctiva.” (Id.) Category 10 seeks documents
“related to Serenity’s allegation that Avadel failed to use commercially reasonable efforts to
commercialize Noctiva . . ..” (Id.)
In arguing for supplementation of Counterclaimants’ document production, Ferring
points to, among other things, Ferring’s document requests regarding opinions of
Counterclaimants’ damages expert, Dr. Vellturo, as well as the opinions themselves. (See Ferring
Second Req. Nos. 40 and 41; 10/21/19 Tr. at 6-7, 20-21; Ferring Letter Reply at 1-2.) Ferring’s
Request for Production No. 40 seeks “[a]ll Documents and Things concerning or regarding the
alleged ‘irreparable harm’ to Serenity and Reprise referred to in paragraphs 4 and paragraphs 7
through 20 of the Vellturo Declaration.” (Ferring Second Req. at 9.) Request for Production No.
41 seeks “[a]ll Documents and Things concerning or regarding the ‘relevant market dynamics’
referred to in paragraph 7 of the Vellturo Declaration.” (Id.) Further, Dr. Vellturo opines that the
license agreement (the ELAA) between Serenity and Avadel serves as an appropriate touchstone
for determining a reasonable royalty for the patents in suit. (See footnote 3, supra.)
Counterclaimants admit that Request for Production Nos. 40 and 41 “relate directly to
the claim for a permanent injunction.” (10/21/19 Tr. at 7.) In order to avoid supplemental
A fair reading of Categories 5 and 6 is that they are seeking materials related to efforts by Serenity and/or
Reprise, and are not limited to efforts by Avadel alone. See footnote 4, supra.
7
Roivant is the company that bought Avadel’s regulatory rights to sell Noctiva in the Avadel bankruptcy.
(10/21/19 Tr. at 21.)
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production in response to Categories 5 to 6 and 8 to 10, Counterclaimants offer to dismiss their
permanent injunction claim without prejudice within five days of this Order. (Counterclaimants’
10/25/19 Ltr. at 1.) They argue that “[t]his dismissal will moot a portion of Ferring’s arguments”
related to the foregoing categories. (Id.) However, if Counterclaimants secure a new commercial
partner before the end of 2019, they “reserve their right to seek injunctive relief.” (Id.)
Counterclaimants also offer to “supplement” Dr. Vellturo’s report “specifying that his lost
profits analysis only applies through December 3, 2018 (if at all) and that his lost profits analysis
(if presented at trial) will not include calculations based on sales forecasts.” (Counterclaimants’
10/25/19 Ltr. at 1.) They note that their “stipulation is directed only to lost profits and not to a
reasonable royalty, and is without prejudice.” (Id.) They argue that “[t]his supplementation will
moot a portion of Ferring’s arguments” related to Categories 5 to 6 and 8 to 10. (Id.) Once again,
if Counterclaimants secure a new commercial partner before the end of 2019, they “reserve the
right to pursue a lost profits analysis beyond December 3, 2018.” (Id. at 1-2.)
The Court finds that Counterclaimants’ offers are not sufficient to avoid their duty to
supplement. As Counterclaimants themselves admit, their offers only “moot a portion of
Ferring’s arguments” regarding the subject categories. (Counterclaimants’ 10/25/19 Ltr. at 1.) In
addition, by reserving their right to seek injunctive relief and pursue a lost profits analysis until
the end of the year, Counterclaimants are leaving open the possibility that, even under their view
of the case, additional discovery would be needed if Counterclaimants later sought to exercise
such rights. In addition, and in any event, the Court finds that the supplemental documents
sought by Ferring relate to the determination of a reasonable royalty.
8
Counterclaimants argue that “no supplemental discovery (sought after the close of
discovery) related to a reasonable royalty analysis should be permitted that seeks documents
created after the date of the hypothetical negotiation (which both parties agree is early
November 2018).” (Counterclaimants’ 10/25/19 Ltr. at 2.) Ferring does not take issue with the
Counterclaimants’ description of the law regarding the hypothetical negotiation:
“The hypothetical negotiation attempts to ascertain the royalty upon which
the parties would have agreed had they successfully negotiated an agreement
just before infringement began.” Wordtech Sys. v. Integrated Networks
Solutions, Inc., 609 F.3d 1308, 1319 (Fed. Cir. 2010). The fundamental reason
for employing the hypothetical negotiation construct for a reasonable royalty
is returning to the date when the infringement began. See Panduit Corp. v.
Stahlin Bros. Fibre Works, Inc., 575 F.2d 1152, 1158 (6th Cir. 1978) (Markey, J.,
sitting by designation) (“The key element in setting a reasonable royalty after
determination of validity and infringement is the necessity for return to the
date when the infringement began.”).
(Counterclaimants’ 10/25/19 Ltr. at 2.) Counterclaimants acknowledge that post-infringement
evidence is probative in certain circumstances, but argue that those circumstances are not
present in this case. (Id. at 3-5.) The Court, however, agrees with Ferring that Counterclaimants
are conflating what evidence is admissible with what evidence is discoverable. (Ferring 10/29/19
Ltr. at 2-3.)
The Court is aware from its own experience that documents created after an event often
are germane to that which came before. For example, in the present case, on January 21, 2019,
Serenity alleged that Avadel materially breached its contractual obligations by failing to use
commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize Noctiva, but one month earlier, on December
20, 2019, Counterclaimants submitted their damages expert report, in which Dr. Vellturo alleged,
among other things, that Avadel had used commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize
Noctiva (and the hypothetical negotiation itself is assumed to have occurred only a month before
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that, in November 2018). (Ferring 10/29/19 Ltr. at 4.) Surely, Ferring is entitled in discovery to
production of documents regarding what, if anything, occurred between November and January
with respect to Avadel’s efforts to commercialize Noctiva.
Thus, the Court in its discretion hereby orders, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e)(1)(B) and
26(e)(2), that Counterclaimants supplement their document production by producing documents
responsive to Categories 5 to 6 and 8 to 10. 9
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Ferring’s Letter Motion (ECF No. 557) is GRANTED IN PART and
DENIED in part. Within 30 days of the date of this Order, Counterclaimants shall produce
documents responsive to Categories 5 through 10.
SO ORDERED.
Dated: New York, New York
November 1, 2019
________________________________
STEWART D. AARON
United States Magistrate Judge
During oral argument, the Court sua sponte raised the issue of whether Reprise had a duty to supplement
since Request for Production No. 11 only sought “communications between Serenity and any Third Party
concerning any patent in suit” (Request for Production No. 11, ECF No. 562-1, at 9), and there is no similar
request seeking communications between Reprise and third parties relating to Noctiva. This issue had not
previously been raised by Counterclaimants as a reason for Reprise not supplementing its document
production. (Ferring 10/29/19 Ltr. at 4.) In the circumstances, given the overlapping interests between
Reprise and Serenity—and taking into account that other requests for production cover Reprise, as well
as Serenity—the Court’s Order requires both Serenity and Reprise to supplement their document
productions as set forth above.
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