Merck & Co. Inc. v. Apotex, 2003 FC 1033

Date: 20030905

Docket: T-2792-96

Citation: 2003 FC 1033

MONTREAL, QUEBEC, SEPTEMBER 5, 2003

Present:           RICHARD MORNEAU, ESQ., PROTHONOTARY

BETWEEN:

                                                               MERCK & CO., INC.

                                                  MERCK FROSST CANADA & CO.

                                                              SYNGENTA LIMITED

                                                   ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED and

                                                    ASTRAZENECA CANADA INC.

                                                                                                                                                        Plaintiffs

                                                                                                                  (Defendants by Counterclaim)

                                                                                 and

                                                                       APOTEX INC.

                                                                                                                                                      Defendant

                                                                                                                         (Plaintiff by Counterclaim)

                                               REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER

[1]                 UPON a motion by the Merck plaintiffs, supported by the Astrazeneca plaintiffs, for an order for the production of documents in the possession of a third party (Delmar) and for the examination of Delmar pursuant to rules 233 and 238 of the Federal Court Rules, 1998;

[2]                 UPON considering the motion records of the Merck plaintiffs and the defendant Apotex, and upon hearing counsel for said parties;

[3]                 CONSIDERING that this Court has repeatedly emphasized that the discovery phase of this action is at an end;

[4]                 CONSIDERING that Apotex has advised that it does not object to Delmar's production of those documents in its possession which indicate when the lots of lisinopril acquired by Apotex after the patent issued were made by Delmar, and those documents establishing when the lots of licensed lisinopril subsequently acquired by Apotex were sold by Delmar to Apothecary International;

[5]                 IN LIGHT OF THE FOREGOING, the Court is satisfied that it is appropriate to order as follows, first as to the production of documents, then with respect to oral discovery of Delmar.

                                                                            ORDER

I.           Production of Documents

Within twenty (20) days of the instant order, Delmar shall produce to counsel to the parties certified copies of the following documents in the possession, power or control of Delmar that would establish:

(a)         the date of manufacture of lots of lisinopril acquired by Apotex after the subject Patent issued which it alleges were manufactured by Delmar prior to the issuance of the "350 Patent; and

(b)         the date when the lots of licensed lisinopril that were subsequently acquired by Apotex were allegedly sold by Delmar to Apothecary International prior to February 14, 1993.

II.         Oral Discovery of Delmar

This part of the motion is premature and is adjourned sine die to be brought back on, if necessary, once the documents referred to above have been produced by Delmar. In coming to this conclusion the Court gives weight to the fact that neither the Merck plaintiffs nor Apotex have seen the documents. In addition, given the late stage of the action, strict compliance with rule 238 is even more required. In that regard, I am not satisfied that the Merck plaintiffs have provided under the motion at bar the requisite evidentiary basis to meet the criteria found under rule 238(3) and specially rule 238(3)(a) and (c).

Costs of this motion shall be in the cause.

A copy of this order shall be transmitted by the Registry to counsel to Delmar.

Richard Morneau    

                                           Prothonotary

                                       FEDERAL COURT

Date : 20030905

Docket : T-2792-96

BETWEEN:

MERCK & CO., INC.

MERCK FROSST CANADA & CO.

SYNGENTA LIMITED

ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED and

ASTRAZENECA CANADA INC.

                                                                           Plaintiffs

                                                        (Defendants by Counterclaim)

and

APOTEX INC.

                                                                            Defendant

                                                         (Plaintiff by Counterclaim)

                                REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER

                                       FEDERAL COURT

                        COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

DOCKET:

STYLE OF CAUSE:

T-2792-96

MERCK & CO., INC.

MERCK FROSST CANADA & CO.

SYNGENTA LIMITED

ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED and

ASTRAZENECA CANADA INC.

                                       Plaintiffs

                     (Defendants by Counterclaim)

and

APOTEX INC.

                                          Defendant

                      (Plaintiff by Counterclaim)

PLACE OF HEARING:Montreal, Quebec

DATE OF HEARING:September 3, 2003

REASONS FOR ORDER OF RICHARD MORNEAU, ESQ., PROTHONOTARY

DATED:September 5, 2003

APPEARANCES:

SOLICITORS OF RECORD: