McAirlaids, Inc. v. Kimberly-Clark Corporation et al
Filing
61
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Samuel G. Wilson on 12/31/2013. (rkc)
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
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?