McAirlaids, Inc. v. Kimberly-Clark Corporation et al

Filing 61

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Samuel G. Wilson on 12/31/2013. (rkc)

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etEn/s OF CE 1.s. sT GOURT . FI DI . AT ROANOKE, A V FI LED D 312 1 E2 23 I THE UNI N TED STA TE S D I STR I T C O U R T C FO R TH E W E ST ER N D I STR I T O F V I G I I C R N A R O AN O K E D I ISI N V O JULA C. I DUDL CL EY ERK BK * M C I L A I S,I C . A R D N , Pl nt f , ai i f C i lA cti N o.7: vi on 13cv193 V. M EM O M ND U M O PI O N NI K I BER LYM CLARK C O R PO M TI N ,e J/ , O t . D efendant s. By:Sam uelG .W ison l Unied St e Di t i tJudge t at s s r c Thi i a a onf pae i rnge ntunde 35U. C.j271byplitf M c rads s s n di or tnt nfi me r S. anif Aili l .i c rads' a ans Ki el clr Co p rto Ki ry clr W olwi e I .a d nc (t Aili ' g i t mb ry- ak r o ain, mbel- ak rd d ,nc, n M ) Ki el - ak Glba S ls LLC ( olci l ( C', rsngo to t ema u a tle mb ry clr o l ae , c le t y : ' aii u f h n fct , ve K- ) r ra ds s r s m i por a i a s l ofa or ntpads 1 M cAi l i as e t , n ong ot r c a m sf r le , m t ton, nd a e bs be . he l i or e i f die tifi e n u d rj2 ()o ap o u tb - r c s p tn cam,n ie tid c me t rc n rng me t n e 71a f r d c- y p o e s ae t li id rc n u e n underj271b) a wiluli rnge nt C hasmo dt dimisM c rads j271a cam ( , nd lf nfi me .Kve o s s Aili ' () li f r le be us t pr es r s tng i t a lgedl ofe ngpr uc occ si t Pe e' or ei f ca e he oc s e uli n he le y f ndi od t ur n he opl s R e i ofChi a i hasm oved t di m i st i r c i uc m enta w il u i rnge ent publc na, nd t o s s he ndie t nd e nd lf l nf i m cl m son t g o mdst tM c radshasnotplusbl pld t ecli s Theco ttndst t ai he r t ha Ail i a i y e hos am . ur i ha Mc rad ma a s r acam f r eifu d rj27 () a e o tep o uc-y p o e sp tn Aili s y se t li o r le n e 1a b s d n h r d tb - r c s ae t c ai e n t l m ve houg t m a a t i pr s occ ls o s de t Unied St t , nd i alo f nds h he nuf c urng oce s tr ut i he t a es a t s i t tM c il i haspl i y pl d i r c i em e a w iluli nge e . A c or ng y, ha A r a ds aus bl e ndie t nduc nt nd lf ngi m nt c di l t cour w ilde K - ' pa ta m o i n t di m i s he t l ny C s ri l t o o s s . 1Thepari wer bef et cour i an e lercasealegi tadem a k i rngem e arsng out tes e or he tn ari l ng r r nf i nt ii oft aleged tade- es ofK- spads. cour f he l r dr s C' The t ound M c il ds'aleged tade- es t be A rai l r dr s o f ncina, nde tr ds u to la ne e ummayj g n f rK- M c rad . n v. mbel clr Co p.2 3W L r ud me t o C. Ailis l c. Ki ry- ak r , 01 37 660( . Va J y 1 ,201 . 88 W D. . ul 9 3) 1. M c rai al gesK- spr Ail ds le C' oduci ofa or ton bs bentpa diec l i r ty,a wilu l ds r ty, ndiecl nd lf ly ifi g sU. Pae tNo 66 ,0 (ç ç 0 Pae f', c M c rad o sb a sg me t n rn e S. tn . ,757 2 :he 7 2 tn ) whih Aili s wn y sin n . t Prma iy a is now i Cl m 18oft : Pae ,whi h t pa te a e i apr tbyi rl t s ue s ai he 702 tnt c he ri s gr e s oduc oduc s uc pr s cli . K - ma acur t a l edl ofe ngpr t, s h asGood t oce s am 2 C nuf t es he leg y f ndi Nies D i pos bl Be M a s i Chi a t n i pors t m t t Unie St t w he e K - of e st s a e d t, n na nd he m t he o he t d a es r C fr o s l,s ls a us st m .M c ra dsa l est tK- kne oft : 2 Pae a ove s w, e l el , nd e he Aili leg ha C w he 70 t nt nd r a diec e i t c e a ore r i e co r ove isChi s m a ac tr rt m a pr r t d, ns m t d, nd/ xe c s d nt ol r t ne e nuf tze o ke oduc s t usng t pa e t pr sde c i i t : Pa e .Acc di t M cAili , or alt s i he t n ed oces s rbed n he 702 t nt or ng o ra ds bef e l hi oc ur e t pa tesme pur ua t asgnedco i nta dicosle a r e e .Durng t t c r d, he ri t s nt o i nfde il s l tr g e m nt i ha m e tng M c il ds di c os t K - is pr i t r a pat nt d m a a tli pr es e f r ei A rai s l ed o C t opre a y nd e e nuf c trng oc s s o m a ng a or ntpa ,a s ty a trt tm e tng,K - e pl esfl d a pa e a plca i n ki bs be ds nd horl fe ha e i C m oye ie t nt p i to f a(Dipos bl Abs be Pa ' a K- be n pr or G s a e or nt d, nd C ga oduci t al dl ofe ng pr ' ng he lege y f ndi oduds . 2The $ Pa e alo i udes 17 pr 702 t nt s ncl ocesscl m sa 6 devi e cl m s Cl m l8 oft 1 ai nd c ai . ai he 702 Pat r : ent eads tAn a or t bs bentfbermat whih i t rr iGnt andr l e,fom i t c s ea ess , olabl r c l os fbe ,celul e pul orofwood pul ca boar w ihoutt us elul e i rs l os p p r d t he e ofa tonalbi ng agent ,and hasat s r h oft fbe web i at ddii ndi s ear tengt he i r s l t0.2 kN/ ,whih i s tbl f us i hygine pr eas 1 m c s uia e or e n e oduct m adeby s, tefl wijp o esn se s h ol n rc sig tp : o ()prvl n a irg a c lul efbe lye a pec de snqi a o dig n re ulr el os i r a r nd r-on n i t underreatvel l pr ur t pr e a l enon- ove wlh l i y ow ess e o oduc oos w n t l de iy a t sr ngt and ow nst nd ear te h; ( p o digaparo c lnde r lsha n apatr o poi o b) r vi n i f ae r ol vig ten f nt r lne- haped suds defni a gap t r t en,and i eri t i s t , i ng he ebe we ns tng he l e nonoos wove i o t ga oft calnde r l t ti us t n nt he p he e r ols ha s ed o c t a pater ofpoi -orlne s ped pr ur zonesunder reae tn nt i - ha ess e r a i y hi pr s e,wher t ir ary aranged t sar eltvel gh es ur e he regul l r iber e pr ed ont each ot ,whe ei ess o her r n ( ) t los no wov nha amoitr c ntn o u t 5 1 he o e n- e s su e o e t f p o pe centby wei w hen i i i ered i ot gap, r ght t s ns t nt he ( ) t ir g a l arnge tbe saep e s d o t e c ohe 2 he re ulry ra d i r r r se n o a h t r undera pr ur i ar ess e n angebet n 250 and 600 M Pa; wee s t tanon- par tng fuson oft fber occur cr i a fberweb uch ha se a i i he i s s eatng i w ih a e bossngpater ' t n m i t n.' l. I A moint d s s u d rFe e a Rul o Cii Pr c d r 1 ( )6 tsstelg l to o imis n e d r l e f v l o e u e 2 b ( ) e t h e a s t e yofac ant l o de t s veamoi t dimisunde Rul 1 b)6 , ufkinc ompli . n r r o mvi ton o s s r e 2( () a c pl i nee notc a n de aied f c ua alega i , m us c a n f c ss fc e tt o r i e om a nt d ont i t l a t l l tons but t ont i a t uf i i n t a s t arg t r i a i ht o elef bovet s c ai lve 'a dsaea cai t r le t ti plusbl on is he pe ul tve e l' nd :tt l m o ei f ha s a i e t fc . Bel l Co p v. mbv, 5 U. 5 4 5 5( 0 7 .A cam i p a sbei te a e' lAt. r . Two l 5 0 S. 4 , 5 2 0 ) li s lu il f h ' c ompli c ansç acualco e t tal wst cou tt dr t r as bl i e e t t ant ont i t t f nt nt ha lo he r o aw he e ona e nf r nce ha t de e he f ndan i la e f t m i c t s i bl or he s onduc a l ged, a i t r i E or t n a s rpos i lt t le ' nd f he e s t e ha ' m hee s biiy t tadefnda ha a tdunlwf l 'As r tv.lba,556U. 662,678- ( ) W he ha e nt s ce a uly. hcof q l ' S. 79 2009 . n c n iei gaRu e1 ( )6 moin t c u t s a c p a1fcu l le ainsi t ec mplit o sd rn l 2 b ( ) to ,he o r mu t c e t 1 a ta alg to n h o an a tu a mus dr w a1 r a ona e i e e esi f voroft pl i if Se Erc on v. r , s r e, nd t a 1 e s bl nf r nc n a he antf . e iks Pa dus 5 U. 8 , 4 ( 0 7 . 51 S. 9 9 2 0 ) 11 1. K - s e t s r m pos pr s cl i l a l c o M cAi l i 'pr C e ks o upe i e oce s a m aw nd ogi n r a ds oduc t by- p o e scam, r u n t a tec t t h udd s s M c rads j2 ()cam f rrle r c s li a g i g h t h ol s o l imis Aili ' 71a li o eif r bec us K- ma a tzest alge yofe ngpr ti Chi Thec tee t K- s a e C nufclr he le dl fndi oduc n na. our rj cs C' ar l nt bas on apl i r di oft sa u e. glme s ed an ea ng he t t t Thesaut goveni i rnge ntofU. paent,35U. C.j271 s cii a tons tt e r ng nfi me S. t s S. , pe fes ci t tc tt ei rnge nt Underj271a,whih d i diec pae i rngeme , ha onsiut nfi me . () c efnes r t tnt nfi nt û d whoe rwihou a hort m a , e ,ofe st s l,ors lsanypae e i ve i n, t n t ve t t ut iy kes us s f r o e l el tnt d n nto wihi he Unie St esori td at mporsi o t Unie Stt sa pa e edi nton durng t tr oft t nt he t d a e ny t nt nve i i he e m he pae t r or i rng t pae .335U. . .j271a .Pae 1w rc niest ts tnt heef ,nfi es he tnt' ' SC () tnt a e og z ha ome i nto , c us o lnguagelmiains t ybedei byt pr s o ma ng rhe . nve ins be a e f a i tto ,t ma fned he oce s f ki t ml' ' I r Brdaeor 357F. 679, 2 ( C. A.1 .Suc C oduc- pr e s'camsû bl n e i f d, 2d 68 C. P. 966) h t pr tby- oc s ' li t e ena a a i a t cli a ot r s pa e a epr uc t tr it de i tonby o he t nt n pplc nt o am n he wie t ntbl od t ha ess s fnii t r ha he pr es bywhih ii ma 'I r Thom e 777F. 695,697( d.Ci.1 .Andt h oc s c t s de.'n e , 2d Fe r 985) houg defne by isma acurngpr es ,thei nton s de i d i apr ta notapr es .' i d t nuf t i oc s t nve i o fne s oduc nd t oc s' I r Br dge or 357 F. a 682;s e a s Sm ihKlne Bee hn Cor v.Apo e Cop . 439 n e i f d, 2d t e lo t i c m p. tx , F.d 1 2 1 7( d. r 2 0 )(Re a de so h w b o dl o n ro yo ec n tu sa 3 31 , 31 Fe Ci. 0 6 t g r ls f o r a y r ar wl n o sr e t pr tby- oc scam,i i cea t ts chcamsa eawayst apr tno apr es.). oduc- pr es li t s l r ha u li r l o oduc, t oc s' I f l t tapr tc nno e c pea acin frdie ti rnge ntunde j271a t olows ha oduc n t s a n to o rc nfi me r () by vi t of ise r t r ior a m a ac ur . rue t xt a e rt i l nuf t e' Crt c ly,i i t i r ngi ac - m a ng,us ng, f r ng t s l, ii a l t s he nf i ng t ki i of e i o e l s lng o i o t g- t tmus bewihn (rit )teUntd el , r mp ri ha t i n t i o n o h ie St t . Eve i a i rngi pr a es n f n nf i ng oduc i m a a t e out i of t s nuf c ur d s de t U nie St t s a pe s i r nge i he i por st pr uc , he t d a e , r on nf i s f m t he od t or us ,ofe st s l ors l i i t Unie Stt . es f r o el, els t n he t d a es Ge r Com . SantGoban Cop.572F. 1 1 0( d. r 2009 ( tngI r N. mton v. i - i r , 3d 371, 38 Fe Ci. ) cii n e Pime tCo.71F.d4 7, 6( C. A.1 3 )(é ha lngb e s tldt a a t lsp tne i g n , 2 4 45 C. P. 9 4 :t s o e n et h t ri e ae td n l e c t U nied St t s c nnotbe m a a tle a oad,i por e a s d i vi a i n oft rght of he t ae n nuf c tr d br m t d, nd ol n ol t o he i s t pae e -l) he tnte' . He e, hepa tesagr e Cli 18oft : Pa e i apr tby- oc scai .As r t ri e am he 702 t nt s oduc - pr es l m s h,i pr e t t tnalpr t whi h i t pa e t i nton f rpur e o anayssunde uc t ot c s he i oduc , c s he t n ed nve i o pos s f l i r j271 a.Not ngi t cla lnguageofj271a r uie t pr e sse ofapr tby() hi n he e r a () eq rs he oc s tps oduc3w hiej271a go r ( nypae td i nto 'j271g i s cfct t i o tto ors l l () vens d a t n e nve in,' ( ) s pe ii o he mp rai n ae ofaG r uc whihi ma eb apr cesp tn e i teUnie S ae . 35U. C. 2 ( )& ( t od t c s d y o s ae td n h t d tt s' p ' S. j 71a g) ( mpha i a de ) M c rad ha a s re acam f r le un rj271g)t tK- ha n tc le e e ss d d . Ailis s se td li or eif de ( ha C s o halng d. % 4 pr es c a m t oc i t U nie St t asan e e e ofi rnge e . N orhasa c s s oc s l i o cur n he t d a es l m nt nf i m nt ny a e o hel 4 A c or ngl , t l to ofK- spr uc ma a tzi doe no dee tM c rads j d. c di y he ocain C' od t nufctrng s t fa Aili ' 271a cl m. () ai U nde a pl us biiy a ys s K- a g t tM c il i 'c a m s ofi r c r a i lt nal i , C r ues ha A r a ds l i ndie t i rn e n u e j2 1b a dwilu i rn e n aeia e uaebe a s te c n an nfig me t nd r 7 ( ) n lf lnfi g me t r n d q t c u e h y o ti 1 oiem l t as e tons'w ihouts t i ntf c s s The c tfnds M cA il i ha pl us bl pl d % l a e s ri ' t ufk e a t . our i ra ds s a i y e bot h. A cam ofi r c i e ntund j271b)rquiest pl ntf t e tbls t tt li ndie t nduc me er ( e r he ai if o sa ih ha he alege i l d nduce û rs know i l i ng y nduce i rngi a tviy a pos es e s ii i e tt d nf i ng c i t nd s s d pec f c nt n o e otr ge a hersi rnge e 'a t t i nc la not ' nfi m nt' nd hat he nduce c d onduc r s t i die ti rnge nt t e uled n r c nfi me . Akn iTe hs.I v. meihtNewor sl ,692F. 1301 1308( d.Ci.201 (n ma c . nc. Li lg t ks nc. 3d , Fe r 2) e ba ) Toade tl pladwilu i rnge nt apli ifne donl aleget dee nts nc. quaey e lf l nfi me , antf e y l he fnda ' know l edge a co i nd ntnued w iluli rng e oft pa e ,bot pl i y s ppore w ih f c s lf nf i em nt he t nt h aus bl u td t a t . S eM iuo oCo . Ce ta P rha ig LLC, 9 F.d 1 4,1 0( d Ci. 0 7 . e t ty p v. n rl u c sn , 4 9 3 28 29 Fe . r 2 0 )6 4K C r i prm a l on t eepr ii quit t t asaut iyt s eles i riy hr opostons led ogeher hort o uppor iscont nton: tt e i ( ) t tt r c s tr i p od tb p o es camss r ea lmiainsi d tr ni 1 ha t o e s e ms n r uc-y- r c s li e v s i tto n ee mi ng p i rng me t'Ab t La s v. n z I . 5 6F. 1 ,1 3( d. r 200 )(nba c ; nfi e n,' bo t b . Sa do m nc, 6 3d 283 29 Fe Ci. 9 e n ) ( ) t tad oc s c n tbeus d ( t n'heUntd S e a r q rdby j27la u e se c 2 ha i e s a no pr e wihi t ie tts s e uie () nls a h sep i pe f m e wihi t scounty 'NTP.l v.Rese ch i M oton,Lt ., 418 F. 1282, t s r or d t n hi l ' nc. ar n i d 3d - 1 l ( d. r 200 ) a d 3 8 Fe Ci. 5 ; n ( ) t tj271a ç e no p otc a i tt i rain o pr d t ma ebyapae t d 3 ha ( ) t s t r e t gans he mpo tto f o ucs d do tn e pr c s , Zole v. td Sae , 2F. 1 9,1 2 ( d. r 201 ) o e s' tk Unie tts 67 3d 30 3 2 Fe Ci. 2 . ' Thel t t pr ii appl t pr ess notpr tby- oc s cl m s.Thefr tsmpl m e Kater wo opostons y o oc , oduc - pr es , ai is i y ans C hasnotneces arl i rnged i i pr s iy nfi f t oduce afbe matasdes rbed i Cl m 18,butus a dif ent d i r c i n ai ed fer pr st do s oces o o. 5K- a s agu M c rad ha n ta q t l pld ac ntiutr i rng me cam u e j c lo r es Ailis s o de uaey e o rb o y nfi e nt li nd r 27lc .M c radsc c de iha n tc n-n l a sre s hacam. () Aili on e s t s o u e ty s e td uc li 6To a ualy pr wil i rngem e , t epl ntf mus e ubls ( )t tt a c e i rn r ct l ove lful nfi nt h ai if t s ih l ha he c us d nfige t ce de piea o j tvey hihlkei odta isa ton c siue i rng me o avai pae t' t td s t n beci l g i lho h t t ci s on tt td nfi e nt f ld tn , a ' a ( )t a t so j ci l dei drs ç set rk wn o s ob o t a i s ul h vebe nk wn nd 2 h t hi b e tvey fne ik : ihe no r o vius h t t ho d a e no wa t t ea c s d i rn r'l r Se g t Te h.LLC, 7F.d 1 60,1 ( d. r 2 7)( nba ) o h c u e nfige . n e a ae c . ' 49 3 3 371 Fe Ci. 00 e nc . M c rai ha pld s t e fcst ttndt s Ail ds s e ufkint a t ha e o uppor t knowldg r quie nt( e, the e e e rme . Se e. ,Fis Ame dCompli ,! 1 & 2125) Peha mos plusbl n g. rt nde ant ! 9 r ps t a i y mongt m, he M c rai de c i apr - ui m e tnga ong t pa te g ne by a sg c i nta Ail ds s rbes e s t e i m he ri s over d i ned onfde il dic osle a ee ntdtrng whih i dic os d t K- ispr it r a pae e s l tr gr me li c t s l e o C t oprea y nd tnt d ma a t i pr esesf ma nga or ntpa .L .a !25) Ac or ngt Mc rads nufcurng oc s or ki bs be ds (4 t c di o Aili , s r l afe t m ee i K - se pl s fl d a pa e a i ton f a C ipos bl ho ty t r he tng, C' m oyee ie t nt pplca i or & s a e D Abs be Pa '(d. Si lry, c radsha plds tce fcsa crumsa e t or nt d. 1 ) mial M Aili s e ufi int a t nd ic tnc s o ' s uppor isal ga i t tK- knowi l i t t le tons ha C ng y nduce i rngng a tviy a s c t aly i e d d nfi i c i t nd pe ik l nt nde t e otrgei rng ntbyot r .( e,eg.j. a ! 26& 33- A c eera ngoft o nc la nfi eme he s Se . ,. t ! t k 34) omplt e di he c pl i tm a t f l i a l to cl a :K - l a ned oft 1 Pa e t oug a pr om a n kes he olow ng lega i ns e r C e r he 702 t nt hr h e s tm e tng;s ui e i oughtapa e bas o t i onna i i ln ne a t n we t wor t nt ed n he nf ton t e r d; nd he nt o k e lr ng a die tng is Chi e m a ac ur rt i rnge t 1 Pa e by m a ng nco zagi nd r c i t nes nuf t e o nf i he 702 t nt ki pr oduc slke G ood iesD i pos bl Be M a s The e c l c i alega i ,a t f r t i N t s a e d t. s ole tve l tons nd he ai i ee e drwnt er aes tcintt s tsyt plusbiiyofMcAili 'j271b) nfrnc s a herfom, r ufi e o aif he a i lt rads ( i r c i rngem e a w iluli r nge e c a m s ndi e t nf i nt nd lf nf i m nt l i . V. Fo t f eg ng r as ,t c tde e t de e r he or oi e ons he our ni s he f ndan s pa t t ' ri EN TER :D e em be 31 201 c r , 3. oto t D im i s in o s s . ' A .d 'e .. , UXI STATES DI CT J TED STRI UDGE 6

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