DigitalCommons@NYLS

Title

Barr Laboratories, Inc. v. Abbott Laboratories, 867 F. 2d 743 - Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 1989

Authors

Roger J. Miner '56

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-3-1989

Abstract

Plaintiff-appellee Barr Laboratories, Inc. ("Barr") and defendant-appellant Abbott Laboratories ("Abbott") are manufacturers of pharmaceutical products. Among those products is a broad spectrum antibiotic drug produced by both parties. Although its patent rights in the drug have expired, Abbott continues to market the product under a brand name. Barr competes with Abbott by distributing the antibiotic under a generic name. Accusing Abbott of extending its patent monopoly by misrepresenting to state agencies and others the quality of the generic version of the drug, Barr commenced the action at bar in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Alleged in the complaint are claims predicated on violations of the Sherman and Lanham Acts as well as pendent state tort claims. Following some pre-trial proceedings, the parties entered into and filed a stipulation dismissing the action with prejudice. Thereafter, Barr filed a similar action against Abbott in the District Court of New Jersey. There followed an application by Abbott in the Southern District for the imposition of Rule 11 sanctions upon Barr. Judge Duffy, to whom the case originally had been assigned, denied the application for lack of jurisdiction. While we are not prepared to say that a district court is totally without authority to impose sanctions after a stipulated dismissal, we hold that Abbott's application properly was denied under the circumstances presented here.

Comments

867 F.2d 743 (1989)

BARR LABORATORIES, INC., Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ABBOTT LABORATORIES, Defendant-Appellant.

United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

Recommended Citation

Miner '56, Roger J., "Barr Laboratories, Inc. v. Abbott Laboratories, 867 F. 2d 743 - Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 1989" (1989). Circuit Court Opinions. 242.
https://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/circuit_opinions/242