Opinion
CONSOLIDATED ORDER RE: MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION
SARIS, District Judge.
Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23, plaintiffs have moved for an order certifying a class in this action. After considering the submissions of the parties and the record in this case, and after hearing on January 19, 2006, I order that plaintiffs' motion for class certification is ALLOWED IN PART and DENIED IN PART as to the claims asserted in the Third Amended Master Consolidated Class Action Complaint (" TAMCCAC" ). The Court relies on the reasons stated in court and in In re Pharm. Indus. Average Wholesale Price Litig., 230 F.R.D. 61 (D.Mass.2005). The classes are certified as follows:
I. CLASSES AND SUBCLASSES CERTIFIED
A. Class 1: Medicare Part B Co-Payment Class
1. Class Definition:
All natural persons nationwide who made, or who incurred an obligation enforceable at the time of judgment to make, a co-payment based on AWP for a Medicare Part B covered Subject Drug that was manufactured by AstraZeneca (AstraZeneca, PLC, Zeneca, Inc., AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals L.P., and AstraZeneca U.S.), the BMS Group (Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Oncology Therapeutics Network Corp., and Apothecon, Inc.), SmithKline Beecham Corporation d/b/a GlaxoSmithKline, or the Johnson & Johnson Group (Johnson & Johnson, Centocor, Inc., Ortho Biotech, McNeil-PPC, Inc., and Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, L.P.). Excluded from the Class are those who made flat co-payments, who were reimbursed fully for any co-payments, or who have the right to be fully reimbursed; and the residents of the states of Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, and Virginia (where consumer protection statutes do not permit class actions).
The Subject Drugs are identified in the Table of Subject Drugs found at the end of this Order. Defendants recently raised the issue that some drugs were improperly included. After conferring, the parties may move to strike drugs included in error.
2. The Court certifies four Subclasses corresponding to each of the defendant groups.
3. The Court certifies the following plaintiffs as representatives of these Subclasses pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3). Leroy Townsend (AstraZeneca); David and Susan Ruth Aaronson (GlaxoSmithKline, the BMS Group); Joyce Howe, individually and on behalf of the Estate of Robert Howe (AstraZeneca); James and Teresa Shepley (the Johnson & Johnson Group); Larry Young, individually and on behalf of the Estate of Patricia Young (the Johnson & Johnson Group). The representative of a Subclass need only have paid for one of the Subject Drugs manufactured or marketed by a defendant group. I decline to certify a class of persons who made co-payments for drugs manufactured by the Schering Plough Group (Schering-Plough Corporation and Warrick Pharmaceuticals Corporation) because plaintiffs have not proposed any adequate and typical representatives of that proposed subclass.
4. The consumer protection act of each state shall apply to these Subclasses. Specifically, the Medicare Part B Co-payment Class is certified for claims under the following statutes: (a) Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 44-1522, et seq.; (b) Ark.Code § 4-88-101, et seq.; (c) Cal. Bus. & Prof.Code §§ 17200, et seq., 1770; (d) Colo.Rev.Stat. § 6-1-105, et seq.; (e) Conn. Gen.Stat. § 42-110b, et seq.; (f) 6 Del.Code § 2511, et seq.; (g) D.C.Code § 28-3901, et seq.; (h) Fla. Stat. § 501.201, et seq.; (i) Haw.Rev.Stat. § 480, et seq.; (j) Idaho Code § 48-601, et seq.; (k) 815 ILCS § 505/1, et seq.; (1) Ind.Code Ann. § 24-5-0.5.1, et seq.; (m) Kan. Stat. § 50-623, et seq.; (n) Md. Com. Law Code § 13-101, et seq.; ( o ) Mass. Gen. L. Ch. 93A, et seq.; (p) Mich. Stat. § 445.901, et seq.; (q) Minn.Stat. § 325F.67, et seq.; (r) Mo.Rev.Stat. § 407.010, et seq.; (s) Neb.Rev.Stat. § 59-1601, et seq.; (t) Nev.Rev.Stat. § 598.0903, et seq.; (u) N.H.Rev.Stat. § 358-A:1, et seq.; (v) N.J. Stat. Ann. § 56:8-1, et seq.; (w) N.M. Stat. Ann. § 57-12-1, et seq.; (x) N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 349, et seq.; (y) N.C. Gen.Stat. § 75-1.1, et seq.; (z) N.D. Cent.Code § 51-15-01, et seq.; (aa) Ohio Rev. Stat. § 1345.01, et seq.; (bb) Okla. Stat. tit. 15 § 751, et seq.; (cc) Or.Rev.Stat. § 646.605, et seq.; (dd) 73 Pa. Stat. § 201-1, et seq.; (ee) R.I. Gen. Laws. § 6-13.1-1, et seq.; (ff) S.C.Code Laws § 39-5-10, et seq.; (gg) S.D.Code Laws § 37-24-1, et seq.; (hh) Tenn.Code § 47-18- 101, et seq.; (ii) Tex. Bus. & Com.Code § 17.41, et seq.; (jj) Utah Code Ann. § 13-1 1-1, et seq.; (kk) Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 9, § 245 1, et seq.; (ll) Wash. Rev.Code § 19.86.010, et seq.; (mm) W.Va.Code § 46A-6-101, et seq.; (nn) Wis. Stat. § 100.18, et seq.; and (oo) Wyo. Stat. § 40-12-100, et seq. Plaintiffs allege that they have complied with the notice provisions of all consumer protection acts requiring such notice.
5. This Class is certified pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3).
B. Class 2: Third-Party Payor MediGap Supplemental Insurance Class
1. Class Definition:
All Third-Party Payors who made reimbursements for drugs purchased in Massachusetts, or who made reimbursements for drugs and have their principal place of business in Massachusetts, based on AWP for a Medicare Part B covered Subject Drug that was manufactured by AstraZeneca (AstraZeneca, PLC, Zeneca, Inc., AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals L.P., and AstraZeneca U.S.), the BMS Group (Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Oncology Therapeutics Network Corp., and Apothecon, Inc.), SmithKline Beecham Corporation d/b/a GlaxoSmithKline, the Johnson & Johnson Group (Johnson & Johnson, Centocor, Inc., Ortho Biotech, McNeil-PPC, Inc., and Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, L.P.), or the Schering Plough Group (Schering-Plough Corporation and Warrick Pharmaceuticals Corporation).
2. The Court certifies five Subclasses corresponding to each of the defendant groups.
3. The Court certifies plaintiffs Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Sheet Metal Workers National Health Fund as the representatives for this Class.
4. The claims for this Class are certified under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93A.
5. This Class is certified pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3).
C. Class 3: Consumer and Third-Party Payor Class for Medicare Part B Drugs Outside of the Medicare Context.
1. Class Definition:
All natural persons who made or who incurred an obligation enforceable at the time of judgment to make a payment for purchases in Massachusetts, all Third-Party Payors who made reimbursements based on contracts expressly using AWP as a pricing standard for purchases in Massachusetts, and all Third-Party Payors who made reimbursements based on contracts expressly using AWP as a pricing standard and have their principal place of business in Massachusetts, for a physician-administered Subject Drug that was manufactured by AstraZeneca (AstraZeneca, PLC, Zeneca, Inc., AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals L.P., and AstraZeneca U.S.), the BMS Group (Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Oncology Therapeutics Network Corp., and Apothecon, Inc.), SmithKline Beecham Corporation d/b/a GlaxoSmithKline, the Johnson & Johnson Group (Johnson & Johnson, Centocor, Inc., Ortho Biotech, McNeil-PPC, Inc., and Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, L.P.), or the Schering Plough Group (Schering-Plough Corporation and Warrick Pharmaceuticals Corporation). Included within this Class are natural persons who paid coinsurance ( i.e., co-payments proportional to the reimbursed amount) for a Subject Drug purchased in Massachusetts, where such coinsurance was based upon use of AWP as a pricing standard. Excluded from this Class are any payments or reimbursements for generic drugs that are based on MAC and not AWP.
2. The Court certifies five Subclasses corresponding to each of the defendant groups.
3. The Court certifies plaintiff Pipefitters Local 537 Trust Funds and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts as the representatives for this Class pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(2) and 23(b)(3). The Court also certifies Health Care For All as the representative for this Class pursuant to Fed R. Civ. P. 23(b)(2).
4. The claims for this Class are certified under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93A.
II. CLASSES NOT CERTIFIED
1. With respect to Class 2, plaintiffs have not submitted an adequate analysis of the feasibility of a nationwide class of Third-Party Payors. Therefore, the Court declines at this time to certify this Class under the consumer protection laws of states other than Massachusetts. However, this denial is without prejudice.
2. With respect to Class 3, the Court declines at this time to certify this Class under the consumer protection laws of states other than Massachusetts. However, this denial is without prejudice.
3. The Court declines to certify a class of persons or Third-Party Payors who made payments or reimbursements for self-administered drugs not appearing in the appended Table of Subject Drugs. This denial is with prejudice.
III. MISCELLANEOUS
1. The Class Period for Class 1 and Class 2 is January 1, 1991 to January 1, 2005. The class period for Class 3 is January 1, 1991 to the present.
2. Excluded from these Classes are: any subsidiaries or affiliates of defendants; the officers and directors of defendants during the Class Period; members of defendants' immediate families; any person, firm, trust, corporation, officer, director, or any individual or entity in which any defendant has a controlling interest or which is related to, or affiliated with, any defendant; the legal representatives, agents, affiliates, heirs, successors-in-interest, or assigns of any such excluded parties and governmental entities.
3. Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(g), the Court appoints the following firms as Co-Lead Counsel: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP; Spector Roseman & Kodroff, P.C.; Hoffman & Edelson; The Wexler Firm; and Kline & Specter.
4. The " Together Rx" claims are not certified because they are dismissed without prejudice by the filing of the TAMCCAC.
5. The Court retains the discretion under Rule 23 to modify this Order. Modifications may include adding new class representatives, striking existing class representatives, and striking drugs from the Table of Subject Drugs.
6. The Court declines to certify issues for an interlocutory appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) or to recommend appeal pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(f).
TABLE OF SUBJECT DRUGS
AstraZeneca
NDC
Description
00186198804
PULMICORT RESPULES 60 mls 2 X 30.25mg/2mL
00186198904
PULMICORT RESPULES 60 mls 2x30 .5mg/2mL
00310096036
Zoladex 3.6mg 1x1EA Depot
00310096130
Zoladex 10.8mg 1x1EA Depot
00310095130
Zoladex 10.8mg 1x1EA Depot
00310095036
Zoladex 3.6mg 1x1EA Depot
BMS Group
NDC
Description
00015301026
BLENOXANE INJ 15 UNIT VHA
00015301020
BLENOXANE INJ 15 UNIT VL
00015306326
BLENOXANE INJ 30 UNIT VHA
00015306301
BLENOXANE INJ 30 UNIT VL
00590032435
COUMADIN INJ 5MG VIAL
00015053910
CYTOXAN 100MG LYOPH W/CYT
00015054812
CYTOXAN 1G 6X50ML VHA+
00015054810
CYTOXAN 1GM LYOPH W/CYTOG
00015054610
CYTOXAN 200MG LYOPH W/CYT
00015054912
CYTOXAN 2G 6X100ML VHA+
00015054910
CYTOXAN 2GM LYOPH W/CYTOG
00015054710
CYTOXAN 500MG LYOPH W/CYT
00015050001
CYTOXAN FOR INJ 100 MG
00015050041
CYTOXAN INJ 100MG
00015050641
CYTOXAN INJ 1X2GM VIAL
00015050241
CYTOXAN INJ 1X500MG VIAL
00015050141
CYTOXAN INJ 200MG
00015054712
CYTOXAN LYO 500MG VL VHA
00015054741
CYTOXAN LYOPH 500MG
00015053941
CYTOXAN LYOPHILIZED 100MG
00015054841
CYTOXAN LYOPHILIZED 1GM
00015054641
CYTOXAN LYOPHILIZED 200MG
00015054941
CYTOXAN LYOPHILIZED 2GM
00015050541
CYTOXAN PINJ 1X1G VIAL
00015050303
CYTOXAN TABLETS 50 MG
00015050302
CYTOXAN TABLETS 50MG
00015050401
CYTOXAN TABS 25MG
00015050301
CYTOXAN TABS 50MG
00015050348
CYTOXAN TABS 50MG
00015340420
ETOPOPHOS 100MG VIAL
00015321429
PARAPLATIN 10X15ML VHA+
00015321529
PARAPLATIN 10X45ML VHA+
00015321329
PARAPLATIN 10X5ML VHA+
00015321410
PARAPLATIN 150MG LYOPH CY
00015321430
PARAPLATIN 1X150MG LYO VL
00015321530
PARAPLATIN 1X450MG LYO VL
00015321510
PARAPLATIN 450MG VL W/CYT
00015321330
PARAPLATIN 50MG LYOPHILIZ
00015321310
PARAPLATIN 50MG W/CYTO
00015335322
RUBEX 100 MG LYOPHILIZED
00015335324
RUBEX 100MG IMMUNEX LABEL
00015335124
RUBEX 10MG IMMUNEX LABEL
00015335122
RUBEX 10MG LYOPHILIZED
00015335224
RUBEX 50MG IMMUNEX LABEL
00015335222
RUBEX 50MG LYOPHILIZED
00015347630
TAXOL 100MG INJ MULTIDOSE
00015347627
TAXOL 100MG SEM-SYN VIAL
00015347620
TAXOL 100MG/16.7ML VHA+ L
00015347911
TAXOL 300MG/50ML VIAL
00015345620
TAXOL 30MG CONC FOR INJ
00015347530
TAXOL 30MG INJ MULTIDOSE
00015347527
TAXOL 30MG SEM-SYN VIAL
00015347520
TAXOL 30MG/5ML VHA+ LABEL
00015309510
VEPESID 100MG VIAL W/CYTO
00015309530
VEPESID 100MG VL W/O CYTO
00015306224
VEPESID 1G 50ML VIAL VHA+
00015306220
VEPESID 1GM/50ML
00015306120
VEPESID 500MG
00015306124
VEPESID 500MG 25ML VL VHA
00015309145
VEPESID 50MG CAPSULES
00015309520
VEPESID INJ 100MG/5ML
00015308420
VEPESID INJ 150MG/7.5ML
SmithKline Beecham Corporation d/b/a GlaxoSmithKline
NDC
Description
00173013093
ALKERAN I.V. INJ 50 MG
00173004535
ALKERAN TAB 2MG 50S
00173044902
IMITREX INJ 0.5ML 12MG/ML 5S VIALS
00173044901
IMITREX INJ 12MG/ML 0.5ML 2S PFLD SRNG
00173044903
IMITREX INJ 12MG/ML 0.5ML2S KIT,SELFDOSE
00173047900
IMITREX INJ 12MG/ML STAT DOSE KIT
00173047800
IMITREX INJ 12MG/ML STAT DOSE RFL 2'S
00173403291
IMITREX SELFDOSE SYSTEM SELFDOSE UNIT/C
00173408367
ITMD ZOVIRAX STERILE POWDER 1000MG (BWX9
00029415105
KYTRIL 1 MG TABS 20'S SUP
00029415139
KYTRIL 1MG TABS 2'S
00029415201
KYTRIL 1MG/ML INJECTION 4ML VIAL
00029414975
KYTRIL INJ SGL DOSE VIAL 1MG/ML VHA
00029414901
KYTRIL INJ SINGLE DOSE VIAL 1MG/ML
00173026010
LANOXIN INJ 0.5MG -PART 1.00
00173026035
LANOXIN INJ 0.5MG 2ML 50S
00173026210
LANOXIN INJ PEDIATRIC 0.1MG/ML
00173026015
LANOXIN INJECTION -PART 1.00
00173026055
LANOXIN INJECTION -PART 1.00
00173071325
MYLERAN TAB 2MG 25S
00173065601
NAVELBINE INJ 10MG 1ML
00173065644
NAVELBINE INJ 50MG 5ML
00173010793
RETROVIR IV INF 10MG/ML 20ML 10
00173041900
VENTOLIN NEB SOL INH 0.083% 3ML 25S
00173041901
VENTOLIN NEB SOL INH 0.083% 3ML 5S S
00173038501
VENTOLIN SOL INH 0.5% 5MG/ML 10ML
00173038558
VENTOLIN SOL INH 0.5% 5MG/ML 20ML
00173044200
ZOFRAN INJ 2MG/ML 20ML
00173044202
ZOFRAN INJ 2MG/ML 2ML 5S
00173046100
ZOFRAN INJ PRMXD 32MG/50ML
00173046200
ZOFRAN INJ PRMXD 4MG/50ML
00173056900
ZOFRAN ODT 4MG 5X2 30S
00173057004
ZOFRAN ODT 8MG 5X2 10'S
00173057000
ZOFRAN ODT 8MG 5X2 30S
00173048900
ZOFRAN ORAL SOL 4MG/5ML 50ML
00173068000
ZOFRAN TAB 24MG 1S
00173044601
ZOFRAN TAB 4MG 100S
00173044602
ZOFRAN TAB 4MG 100S UD
00173044600
ZOFRAN TAB 4MG 30S
00173044604
ZOFRAN TAB 4MG 3S
00173044701
ZOFRAN TAB 8MG 100S
00173044702
ZOFRAN TAB 8MG 100S UD
00173044700
ZOFRAN TAB 8MG 30S
00173044704
ZOFRAN TAB 8MG 3S
00173095201
ZOVIRAX FOR INJECTION 1000MG 20ML 10S ©
00173099501
ZOVIRAX FOR INJECTION 500MG 10ML 10S (C#
Johnson & Johnson Group
NDC
Description
57894003001
C168J REMICADE 1PCK
59676031201
PROCRIT 10,000 U/ML
59676031002
PROCRIT 10000 U
59676031001
PROCRIT 10000 U/ML
00062740103
PROCRIT 10000U/ML AMG
59676032001
PROCRIT 20,000 U/ML
59676030202
PROCRIT 2000 U/
59676030201
PROCRIT 2000 U/ML 6
00062740201
PROCRIT 2000U/ML AMG
59676030302
PROCRIT 3000 U/
59676030301
PROCRIT 3000 U/ML 6
00062740503
PROCRIT 3000 U/ML INST
00062740501
PROCRIT 3000U/ML AMG
59676030402
PROCRIT 4000 U/
59676030401
PROCRIT 4000 U/ML 6
00062740004
PROCRIT 4000 U/ML INST
59676034001
PROCRIT 40000 U/ML
00062740003
PROCRIT 4000U/ML AMG
00062542307
PWRWNG PERMANEN
Schering Plough Group
NDC
Description
59930151504
ALBUTEROL INHALATION SOLUTION
59930164702
ALBUTEROL INHALATION SOLUTION
59930150006
ALBUTEROL SULFATE INHAL. SOL.
59930150008
ALBUTEROL SULFATE INHAL. SOL.
59930151701
ALBUTEROL SULFATE SOLUTION
59930151702
ALBUTEROL SULFATE SOLUTION
59930155020
ALBUTEROL SULFATE SOLUTION
00085113601
INTEGRILIN
00085117701
INTEGRILIN
00085117702
INTEGRILIN
00085123501
INTRON A FOR INJ MULTIDOSE PEN
00085124201
INTRON A FOR INJ MULTIDOSE PEN
00085125401
INTRON A FOR INJ MULTIDOSE PEN
00085116801
INTRON A INJ 18MIU HSA FREE
00085113301
INTRON A INJ 25MIU HSA FREE
00085118401
INTRON A INJ 3MIU HSA FREE
00085118402
INTRON A INJ 3MIU HSA FREE
00085119101
INTRON A INJ 5MIU HSA FREE
00085119102
INTRON A INJ 5MIU HSA FREE
00085117901
INTRON A INJ PAK10MIU HSA FREE
00085117902
INTRON A INJ PAK10MIU HSA FREE
00085057102
INTRON A INJECTABLE 10MILLN IU
00085057106
INTRON A INJECTABLE 10MILLN IU
00085111001
INTRON A INJECTABLE 18MILLN IU
00085028502
INTRON A INJECTABLE 25MILLN IU
00085064703
INTRON A INJECTABLE 3MILLN IU
00085064704
INTRON A INJECTABLE 3MILLN IU
00085064705
INTRON A INJECTABLE 3MILLN IU
00085012002
INTRON A INJECTABLE 5 MILLN IU
00085012003
INTRON A INJECTABLE 5 MILLN IU
00085012004
INTRON A INJECTABLE 5 MILLN IU
00085012005
INTRON A INJECTABLE 5 MILLN IU
00085053901
INTRON A INJECTABLE 50MILLN IU
00085068901
INTRON A INJECTION 18 MIU
00085092301
INTRON A SOL FOR INJ 10 MILLI
00085076901
INTRON A SOL FOR INJ. 25MILLN
00085095301
INTRON A SOLUTION 18MIU 3ML
59930160001
PERPHENAZINE
59930160002
PERPHENAZINE
59930161001
PERPHENAZINE 16MG
59930160501
PERPHENAZINE 8MG
59930160502
PERPHENAZINE 8MG
59930160301
PERPHENAZINE TABLETS
59930160302
PERPHENAZINE TABLETS
00085133601
PROVENTIL INHALATION SOLUTION
00085020901
PROVENTIL SOLUTION .083MG/ML
00085180601
PROVENTIL SOLUTION .083MG/ML
00085020802
PROVENTIL SOLUTION 5MG/ML
00085020852
PROVENTIL SOLUTION 5MG/ML
00085125901
TEMODAR 100MG
00085125902
TEMODAR 100MG
00085124401
TEMODAR 20MG
00085124402
TEMODAR 20MG
00085125201
TEMODAR 250MG
00085125202
TEMODAR 250MG
00085124801
TEMODAR 5MG
00085124802
TEMODAR 5MG