Tafas v. Dudas et al

Filing 97

Memorandum in Support re 96 MOTION for Leave to File Amicus Curiae Brief in Support of Plaintiffs' Anticipated Motions For Summary Judgment filed by Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. (Pivnick, Scott)

Tafas v. Dudas et al

Doc. 97

Case 1:07-cv-00846-JCC-TRJ

Document 97

Filed 12/06/2007

Page 1 of 5

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA (Alexandria Division) ____________________________________ TRIANTAFYLLOS TAFAS, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Civil Action No. 1:07cv846 (JCC/TRJ) ) JON W. DUDAS, et al. ) ) Defendants. ) ____________________________________) CONSOLIDATED WITH ____________________________________ ) SMITHKLINE BEECHAM ) CORPORATION, et al. ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) ) JON W. DUDAS, et al. ) ) Defendants. ) ____________________________________)

Civil Action No. 1:07cv1008 (JCC/TRJ)

MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF AMICUS CURIĆ ELAN PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION'S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE ITS BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS' ANTICIPATED MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., on behalf of itself and its parent and affiliates (herein collectively referred to as "Elan") submits this memorandum in support of its Motion for Leave to file its Brief as Amicus Curić in Support of plaintiffs SmithKline Beecham Corporation, SmithKline Beecham PLC and Glaxo Group Limited's (collectively GSK) and plaintiff Triantafyllos Tafas' anticipated Motions for Summary Judgment. No oral argument on Elan's Motion for Leave is requested.

Dockets.Justia.com

Case 1:07-cv-00846-JCC-TRJ

Document 97

Filed 12/06/2007

Page 2 of 5

Elan is a biotechnology company that is focused on discovering, developing, manufacturing and marketing advanced therapies in neurology, autoimmune diseases, and severe pain. Elan wishes to submit its amicus Brief addressing certain aspects of plaintiffs' arguments to overturn the U.S. Patent Office's "Changes to Practice for Continued Examination Filings, Patent Applications Containing Patentably Indistinct Claims, and Examination of Claims in Patent Applications," 72 Fed. Reg. 46716 (Aug. 21, 2007) (to be codified at 37 C.F.R. pt. 1) (hereinafter "Final Rules"). Elan previously submitted an amicus brief during the preliminary injunction stage of these proceedings. Allowing a non-party to file an amicus curić brief is within the discretion of the Court. DeJulio v. Georgia, 127 F. Supp. 2d 1274, 1284 (N.D. Ga. 2001). The filing of an amicus brief should be allowed where the amicus curić can "offer insights not available from the parties" or can provide "unique information or perspective that can help the court beyond the help that the lawyers for the parties are able to provide." Citizens Against Casino Gambling in Erie County v. Kempthorne, 471 F. Supp. 2d 295, 311 (W.D.N.Y. 2007). Here, while Elan concurs with plaintiffs' assertion that the Final Rules are ultra vires, Elan's amicus Brief, among other things, will likely expand on plaintiffs' position that the Final Rules improperly shift the burden of examining a patent application from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ("PTO") to the applicant. This burden shifting is contrary to law and serves as a basis to overturn the Final Rules. No oral argument is requested on Elan's Motion for Leave and Elan will file its amicus Brief according to the schedule previously set by this Court for the filing of amicus briefs. Elan has contacted counsel for plaintiffs GSK and Tafas who consent to the filing of Elan's Brief. Counsel for the Defendants has indicated that the Defendants take no position on the filing of

2

Case 1:07-cv-00846-JCC-TRJ

Document 97

Filed 12/06/2007

Page 3 of 5

Elan's Motion for Leave or the filing of Elan's amicus Brief. All parties concur that no oral argument is necessary on Elan's Motion for Leave. As Elan's amicus Brief will include unique and special information not otherwise available to this Court, the Court should exercise its discretion to allow the filing of Elan's Brief. Dated: December 6, 2007 By: Of Counsel Vincent J. Napoleon PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN, LLP 2300 N Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037 Respectfully submitted, /s/ Scott J. Pivnick (VSB # 48022) PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN, LLP 1650 Tysons Boulevard McLean, Virginia 22102-4856 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] ATTORNEYS FOR AMICUS CURIĆ ELAN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

3

Case 1:07-cv-00846-JCC-TRJ

Document 97

Filed 12/06/2007

Page 4 of 5

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on this 6th day of December 2007, I electronically filed in Case Nos. 1:07cv1008 and 1:07cv846 (JCC/TRJ) the foregoing "MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF AMICUS CURIĆ ELAN PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION'S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE ITS BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS' ANTICIPATED MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT" using the CM/ECF system and that service was thereby accomplished on: Elizabeth M. Locke, Esq. KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP 655 15th Street, NW ­ Suite 1200 Washington, DC 20005 e-mail: [e-mail] and Craig C. Reilly, Esq. RICHARD MCGETTIGAN REILLY & WEST PC 1725 Duke Street, Suite 600 Alexandria, VA 22314 e-mail: [e-mail] Counsel for Plaintiffs in Civil Action No. 1:07cv1008 (JCC/TRJ) Joseph Dale Wilson, III, Esq. KELLEY DRYE & WARREN LLP Washington Harbour 3050 K Street NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 2007 e-mail: [e-mail] Counsel for Plaintiff in Civil Action No. 1:07cv846 (JCC/TRJ) Lauren A. Wetzler, Esq. United States Attorney's Office 2100 Jamison Ave. Alexandria, VA 22314 e-mail: [e-mail] Counsel for Defendants in Civil Action Nos. 1:07cv1008 (JCC/TRJ) and 1:07cv846 (JCC/TRJ) Thomas J. O'Brien Morgan, Lewis & Bockius 1111 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20004 e-mail: to'[e-mail] Counsel for Putative Amicus American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association

Case 1:07-cv-00846-JCC-TRJ

Document 97

Filed 12/06/2007

Page 5 of 5

Dawn-Marie Bey Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP 700 13th Street, NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005 e-mail: [e-mail] Counsel for Putative Amicus Hexas, LLC, The Roskamp Institute, Tikvah Therapeutics, Inc. James Murphy Dowd Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20004 e-mail: [e-mail] Counsel for Putative Amicus Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactures of America Randall Karl Miller Arnold & Porter LLP 1600 Tysons Blvd., Suite 900 McLean, VA 22102 e-mail: [e-mail] Counsel for Putative Amici BIO and Monsanto Company Charles Gorenstein Michael K. Mutter Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP 8110 Gatehouse Rd, Suite 100 East Falls Church, Virginia 22042 e-mail: [e-mail] Counsel for Putative Amicus Intellectual Property Institute of the William Mitchell College of Law /s/ Scott J. Pivnick (VSB # 48022) PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN, LLP 1650 Tysons Boulevard McLean, Virginia 22102-4856 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail]