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  • Enforcement

    • Lemonade from Lemons: Fairness in FDA Enforcement ActionsOctober 20th, 2020

      Although it is difficult to glean much positive during these COVID-times, particularly if you are (or could be) the subject of a government enforcement action, this post attempts to provide a possible silver lining.  As part of an effort to support economic recovery during this …

    • Restitution and Disgorgement Authority Under FTC Act Section 13(b) Rejected – AgainOctober 5th, 2020

      The Third Circuit handed down a precedential decision this week in the case of Federal Trade Commission v. AbbVie Inc., et al., No. 18-2621 (3d Cir. Sept. 30, 2020), ruling that the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania erred in requiring AbbVie and …

    • A Couple of Firsts in Food EnforcementSeptember 22nd, 2020

      Last week brought a reminder that the government can bring to bear a range of legal theories – some old, some new – in pursuing alleged violations of food safety requirements. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a sentence levying $17.25 million in criminal penalties …

    • Why Aren’t FDA Drug Facility Inspections Resuming?June 25th, 2020

      It has been over three months since FDA issued its press releases stating that it was postponing most foreign and domestic facility surveillance inspections (see here and here).  Since then, apparently only “mission critical” surveillance inspections have taken place, leaving the bulk of registered facilities …

    • Much-Needed Clarity on Disgorgement from the Supreme CourtJune 24th, 2020

      A Supreme Court decision this week shows good potential to upend FDA and FTC’s claim that they can without limits seek disgorgement of “profits” from defendants who engage in unlawful activities.  In Liu v. Securities and Exchange Commission, the question was whether the SEC could …

    • Pricing in the Time of Price Gouging: Trying to Find a Safe HarborMay 5th, 2020

      As unfortunately happens during every national disaster or emergency, unscrupulous individuals and companies see an opportunity to make money.  A lot of it.  When that happens, there are always immediate calls to prosecute individuals and companies for “price gouging” certain products and taking advantage of …

    • Swift Enforcement Against COVID FraudstersMay 1st, 2020

      Since HHS declared a public health emergency caused by COVID-19 in February 2020, there has been an overwhelming response to develop and market products to treat or mitigate the effects of the virus.  Unfortunately, bad apples still are out there preying upon consumer fears and …

    • The FTC’s Teami Case: “All [the FTC] really wanna see is the money.”March 12th, 2020

      Last Thursday, March 5, 2020, the FTC filed a formal complaint alleging deceptive marketing practices against tea and skincare company, Teami, LLC, and its co-founders, as well as a stipulated order for permanent injunction and monetary judgment.  In conjunction with the filings, the FTC also …

    • FDA Says That Theranos Discovery Strain Is Causing Other FDA Enforcement Efforts to Take a BackseatJanuary 16th, 2020

      About eighteen months ago, the government accused former Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and former Theranos president Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani of wire fraud and conspiracy, a scheme that fooled investors into providing more than $700 million to the then-promising blood-testing startup. In the latest development in US …

    • Cert-ainly Interesting Times for the FTC at the Supreme CourtJanuary 13th, 2020

      On December 19, 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or the “Agency”) filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court seeking review of a ruling by the Seventh Circuit case FTC v. Credit Bureau Center, LLC.  A detailed overview of the background …

    • HP&M Releases 2019 Enforcement BriefingJanuary 10th, 2020

      Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. (“HP&M”) is pleased to present its annual report highlighting the leading enforcement actions from 2019 that affect the FDA- and DEA-regulated industries.  As the largest boutique law firm dedicated to serving clients in this field, we are keenly aware of …

    • Testimony About FDA’s Foreign Drug Establishment Inspection Program: GAO and FDA See Things Differently but Both Would Like to See a Fuller GlassDecember 16th, 2019

      Subcommittees of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce heard testimony last week from the Government Accountability Office’s Mary Denigan-Macauley and from Janet Woodcock, Director of FDA’s Center of Drug Evaluation and Research, about the state of FDA’s foreign drug establishment inspection program. FDA generally conducts …

    • The Theranos Saga Continues: Court Requires Government to Produce DocumentsNovember 18th, 2019

      On November 5, 2019, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled in favor of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and former Theranos president Sunny Balwani, in a battle over access to government documents.  While this represents a small victory for these defendants, …

    • The End May Be Here: Court Grants DOJ Motion to Dismiss Whistleblowers’ FCA SuitNovember 15th, 2019

      On November 5, 2019, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California added another entry in the long running saga United States ex rel. Campie v. Gilead Sciences, Inc. when it granted the DOJ’s motion to dismiss.  We have extensively covered this case …

    • The High Costs of “Weaponizing” Discovery StrategiesOctober 25th, 2019

      What do you get when you “cross an approach to discovery à la Inspector Clouseau with a corporate lawyer caricature found in cartoon caption contests?” According to Judge Steven Rau of the District of Minnesota in a 32-page order that required an “exhaustive” 15-page factual …