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People v. Ahmed

(California Court of Appeal) - Reversed a conviction for the sale of marijuana in a case where the defendant operated a business selling medical marijuana products in Livermore, which has a municipal ordinance prohibiting marijuana dispensaries. The defendant contended that the trial court erred by denying him the ability to assert a medical-marijuana defense. The appeals court agreed and overturned his conviction, holding that the trial judge's ruling that barred him from raising a medical-marijuana defense violated his constitutional right to present a defense.



  • Drugs & Biotech
  • Criminal Law & Procedure

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Endo Pharmaceuticals Solutions v. Custopharm Inc.

(United States Federal Circuit) - Affirmed the bench trial finding that valid patents still existed in a longstanding pharmaceutical drug called Aveed after defendant Custopharm was sued for patent infringement by Endo Pharmaceuticals and Bayer after seeking FDA approval to produce a generic version of Aveed.




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Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC

(United States Federal Circuit) - Affirmed a finding of patent claim invalidity involving certain claims related to a drug distribution system for tracking prescriptions of sensitive drugs, such as those with addictive properties. In affirming, the Federal Circuit held that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board did not err and that its determination, on inter partes review, that the patents were invalid was obvious.




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Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

(United States Federal Circuit) - Affirmed that tribal sovereign immunity could not be asserted in a patent proceeding. A pharmaceutical company involved in a dispute over an eye medication patent transferred the title of its patent to a Native American tribe, which then moved to terminate the patent proceeding on the basis of sovereign immunity. Concluding that tribal sovereign immunity cannot be asserted in inter partes review, the Federal Circuit affirmed the denial of the Tribe's motion to terminate the proceeding.




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US ex rel. Wood v. Allergan, Inc.

(United States Second Circuit) - Held that a False Claims Act lawsuit had to be dismissed because it was not the first-filed case accusing the defendant pharmaceutical company of certain improper Medicare and Medicaid billing practices. The plaintiff (relator) argued that his action should be allowed to proceed because the earlier action was no longer pending. Disagreeing, the Second Circuit held that a violation of the first‐to‐file bar, which prohibits a person from bringing a related qui tam action when one is already pending, cannot be remedied by amending or supplementing the complaint. The panel reversed and remanded.




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Khoja v. Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc.

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Reversed in part the dismissal of a securities fraud class action alleging that a biotechnology firm misrepresented to investors the status of a clinical drug trial. An investor brought this suit contending that the company and certain top executives violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit held that the district court erred in part in dismissing the complaint for failure to state a claim. The panel also ruled that the district court abused its discretion in judicially noticing certain facts and in incorporating certain documents into the complaint.




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Oliver v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

(United States Federal Circuit) - Affirmed that vaccinations given to an infant did not cause him to develop a seizure condition. The parents of an infant who developed an illness called Dravet syndrome after being vaccinated sued the Secretary of Health and Human Services for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986. Agreeing with the findings of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Federal Circuit held in a 2-1 decision that the parents failed to show that the infant's injuries were caused by his vaccinations.




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United Food and Commercial Workers Unions v. Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp.

(United States First Circuit) - Affirmed the dismissal of two putative antitrust class actions alleging that a pharmaceutical company took steps to block the entry of generic versions of its leukemia-treatment drug into the U.S. market. The plaintiffs, including several labor union benefit funds, claimed that the drugmaker engaged in anticompetitive conduct by bringing sham infringement lawsuits against manufacturers trying to enter the market with generic versions of that drug. Dismissing the complaints, the district court held that the plaintiffs had not plausibly alleged their claims, and the First Circuit affirmed.



  • Antitrust & Trade Regulation
  • Health Law
  • Drugs & Biotech

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Gustavsen v. Alcon Laboratories, Inc.

(United States First Circuit) - Affirmed the dismissal of a consumer complaint alleging that manufacturers of prescription eye drops deliberately designed their bottles to emit unnecessarily large drops in a ploy to force patients to waste the expensive medication and thus buy more of it. Moving to dismiss on preemption grounds, the manufacturers contended that the Food and Drug Administration would have to approve any modification of the medication's bottle. Agreeing, the First Circuit held that FDA regulations preempted the plaintiffs' state law claims seeking to force a change in the bottle design.



  • Consumer Protection Law
  • Health Law
  • Drugs & Biotech

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Lifewatch Services Inc. v. Highmark Inc.

(United States Third Circuit) - Reinstated a medical device seller's claim that certain Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance companies violated antitrust law by unreasonably restraining trade in the national market for outpatient cardiac monitors. The seller of a cardiac monitoring device contended that it was shut out of the market because the defendants conspired to deny insurance coverage for its product to shield themselves from patient demand for it. Holding that the seller stated a claim under section 1 of the Sherman Act, the Third Circuit reversed dismissal of the complaint and remanded for further proceedings.



  • Antitrust & Trade Regulation
  • Health Law
  • Drugs & Biotech

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Brady v. Bayer Corp.

(California Court of Appeal) - Held that a consumer should have survived a demurrer on his claims that a pharmaceutical company's packaging of certain multivitamin gummies was misleading because, despite the One A Day brand name, these particular vitamins required a daily dosage of two gummies to get the recommended daily values. The consumer claimed that the company violated California's Consumer Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law, and express warranty law. Reversing the trial court, the California Fourth Appellate District held that the complaint adequately pleaded the claims.




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University of California v. Broad Institute, Inc.

(United States Federal Circuit) - Affirmed a judgment of no interference-in-fact in a patent case involving the CRISPR-Cas9 system for the targeted cutting of DNA molecules. The Federal Circuit found no error in the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's conclusion of no interference-in-fact, in this case pitting the Broad Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and others against the University of California, the University of Vienna, and others.




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Teamsters Local 404 Health Services and Insurance Plan v. King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(United States Second Circuit) - Held that it was proper to remand to New York state court a case in which a labor union health plan sought disclosure of a patent dispute settlement agreement between pharmaceutical companies and the generic manufacturer of the EpiPen. Affirmed the district court's remand order, in this special proceeding under New York law seeking pre‐action disclosure.




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Helsinn Healthcare S.A. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.

(United States Supreme Court) - Held that an inventor's sale of an invention to a third party who is obligated to keep the invention confidential can qualify as prior art for purposes of determining the patentability of the invention. The dispute here involved two pharmaceutical companies that disagreed about whether a certain drug was under patent; one of the companies wanted to market a generic version of it. Justice Thomas delivered the unanimous opinion.




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Trustees of Indiana University v. Curry

(United States Seventh Circuit) - Upheld the constitutionality of an Indiana law making it a felony to acquire, receive, sell or transfer fetal tissue. Indiana University sought an injunction barring enforcement of the statute, which impacts medical research. Reversing the district court, the Seventh Circuit held that the statute is not unconstitutionally vague, and also rejected the university's other constitutional arguments.




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Retractable Technologies, Inc. v. Becton Dickinson and Co.

(United States Fifth Circuit) - Held that a manufacturer of medical syringes that falsely advertised its products did not have to disgorge its profits. That remedy would not be equitable under the circumstances here. Affirmed a post-trial ruling, in this lawsuit brought by a competing syringe manufacturer that also involved antitrust claims.




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Gibbons v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

(United States Second Circuit) - Affirmed the dismissal of product liability claims against the maker of a blood-thinning medicine that allegedly caused patients harm. Held that the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act preempted the plaintiffs' state law claims, in this multi‐district litigation.




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Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp. v. Albrecht

(United States Supreme Court) - Clarified when federal law will preempt a state law claim that a drug manufacturer failed to warn consumers of a drug's risks. Held that this preemption question is one for a judge to decide, not a jury. Also spelled out the "clear evidence" standard that applies in this context. Justice Breyer, joined by five justices, delivered the U.S. Supreme Court's majority opinion in this product liability lawsuit against a drugmaker.




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Minder inhoud & meer meta-communicatie door het coronavirus. Is dat erg?

Het is de maand van de meta-communicatie. Door het coronavirus vertellen we niet meer wat we doen, maar hoe we dat doen. Hoe moeten we thuiswerken met kinderen? Hoe kunnen we een online teammeeting inplannen? Hoe blijven we effectief in deze tijd? Deze vorm van communicatie heeft een naam: meta-communicatie. Wat is meta-communicatie precies? Wat […]




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De beste tools voor een design sprint op afstand

Het coronavirus (COVID-19) heeft impact op alle industrieën en zorgt voor een hoop uitdagingen en kansen voor organisaties. Remote werk kreeg een boost die we nooit voor mogelijk hadden gehouden. In dit artikel delen we de inzichten die we kregen tijdens onze remote design sprints, met een focus op handige tools, plus enkele tips en […]




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10x populair: videobellen via Zoom, purpose tijdens pandemie & SEO-teksten

Welke whiteboard-tools kun je online gebruiken, hoe kun je veilig videobellen via Zoom, en wat is de beste bedrijfsstrategie tijdens de coronacrisis? Dit – en meer – zijn de best gelezen artikelen op Frankwatching in de maand april. 1. Zoom & privacy: zo kun je veilig videobellen [how to] Zoom stond de afgelopen weken vol […]




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Effectieve samenwerking? Weg met eigenbelang en wantrouwen

“Als je iemand vertrouwt, maak je hem betrouwbaar”, zei de Romeinse filosoof Seneca. Maar geldt dat nog steeds in deze snel veranderende online wereld? Kun je in tijden van alternatieve feiten en online oplichters wel uitgaan van vertrouwen? En als asociaal eigenbelang op de loer ligt? Zeker in organisaties willen we graag ‘in control’ zijn […]




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Dé strategie voor een succesvolle onderneming, ook na corona

De coronacrisis luidt een nieuwe werkelijkheid in met een grote economische recessie en een anderhalvemeter-samenleving. Dat vraagt van bedrijven en instellingen een kritische blik op hun visie, ambitie en strategie. Business as usual bestaat immers niet meer. Hoe ziet die nieuwe werkelijkheid eruit? Wat betekent dat op korte en lange termijn voor jouw organisatie? Wat […]




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4 formules voor een pakkende inleiding van je blog of artikel

In dit artikel leer je een pakkende inleiding voor jouw blogartikelen te schrijven. Ik deel vier van mijn favoriete technieken, leg ze allemaal beknopt uit en geef bij elke techniek een praktisch voorbeeld. Als SEO-specialist heb ik al honderden blogartikelen geschreven en gebruik ik deze technieken dagelijks! Waarom is een pakkende inleiding belangrijk? Bij het […]




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De YouTube Video Builder: korte, professionele video’s in 5 stappen

Met de huidige omstandigheden verandert de manier waarop we communiceren met klanten. Video gaat steeds meer een rol spelen. Google speelt hier goed op in en komt met de YouTube Video Builder. Hierdoor wordt het voor ieder midden- en kleinbedrijf mogelijk om zonder kennis van videobewerking of dure videoproductie aan de slag te gaan. Scheelt […]




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Het platform als podium: de voordelen van online ontmoeten

Sectoren die nu nog offline only acteren komen meer en meer onder druk te staan. Na het verdwijnen van hele winkelketens en het op de schop nemen van volledige branches is de digitale revolutie op weg om ook de wereld van zakelijke events en B2B-beurzen te ‘disrupten’. Het stevige podium dat de beursvloer biedt is […]




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De betrokkenheid van de klant in het digitale, post-coronatijdperk

De coronacrisis heeft een grote impact op de manier waarop we op dit moment met elkaar omgaan. Dat deze crisis een enorme boost gaat geven aan de digitale transformatie, is wel duidelijk. Maar wat zijn de consequenties van deze digitale versnelling voor de relatie tussen organisaties en hun klanten? Gaan we straks weer terug naar […]




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Wanneer kies je voor online bij het bereiken & betrekken van inwoners?

Van gemeenten wordt anno 2020 verwacht dat zij inwoners betrekken bij participatietrajecten, zijzelf dienen vooral een faciliterende rol op zich te nemen. Maar hoe maak je als gemeente hierin de juiste keuzes: organiseer je een fysieke bewonersbijeenkomst of kies je voor een online raadpleging? Uit het onlangs gepubliceerde onderzoek ‘Staat van Betrokkenheid 2020’ van onderzoeks- […]




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6 redenen om juist wél in de avond actief te zijn op social media

Ben je ook zo benieuwd waarom het ene socialmedia-account moeizaam enkele likes bij elkaar schraapt? En het andere een levendige community is met veel bereik? Verschillende elementen dragen bij aan meer activiteit op je socialmedia-kanaal. Ik ontdekte: actief zijn in de avond kan een groot verschil maken. Dit is eigenlijk heel logisch. Juist ‘s avonds […]




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11 tips voor een productievere werkdag [infographic]

To-do-lijstjes die groter worden in plaats van kleiner, deadlines die zich opstapelen en een bomvolle agenda met afspraken. Het kan frustrerend zijn als je na een lange werkdag niet alles afgerond hebt wat je graag af wilde hebben. Zeker in deze periode waarin thuiswerken de normaalste zaak ter wereld is en alles op afstand moet. […]




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Alyssa Milano Promotes Debunked Jimmy Kimmel Video Maligning Mike Pence: 'F*ck the GOP and This Administration'

Actress and left-wing activist Alyssa Milano has promoted a deceptively edited video about Vice President Mike Pence that was created by late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel -- even though the video has been debunked and Kimmel has publicly apologized for it.




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Afghan Farmers: Coronavirus Means ‘No Choice’ but to Grow Opium

Afghan farmers claim to have “no other choice” but to illegally grow poppies – a lucrative opium crop that fuels the country’s Taliban terror group – amid the economic downturn caused by the Chinese coronavirus pandemic, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on Friday.




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Expert Suggests Alleged Mastermind of Venezuela's Failed Coup Is 'Double Agent' Working for Maduro

The Venezuelan military defector identified as the ringleader of the botched coup attempt in Venezuela was likely working as a "double agent" for the same man he allegedly attempted to overthrow, socialist narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro, Breitbart News has learned.




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Pennsylvania County Rips Governor’s Order Barring Businesses from Reopening

Commissioner Chairman Dan Camp of Pennsylvania’s Beaver County on Friday slammed Gov. Tom Wolf (D) over his order excluding the county from moving into the next phase of reopening.




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Exclusive--Ken Cuccinelli: 8-in-10 Border Crossers Deported in 2 Hours During Coronavirus

Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli says border crossers are being almost immediately returned to Mexico after their crossing into the United States. 





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Hans von Spakovsky: Flynn Still Needs Liberal Judge to Accept Dropped Charges

Discretion over acceptance of the DOJ's bid to drop charges against Michael Flynn lies with a left-wing judge, explained Hans von Spakovsky.




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Mark Levin Celebrates Vindication of 'The Broadcast That Will Go Down in History'

Conservative radio host and litigator Mark Levin noted Thursday on The Mark Levin Show that he had been vindicated in his early suspicions that the outgoing Obama administration had staged a "silent coup" against President Donald Trump.




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RNC Launches 'Protect the Vote' to Fight Left's Vote-by-Mail Scheme

The Republican National Committee (RNC) launched a digital platform on Friday called "Protect the Vote" as a response to the left's increasing attempts to use the coronavirus pandemic to push their election agenda items, such as universal mail-in voting.




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Schumer: Vote by Mail 'Will Be a Very Important Part' of Next Coronavirus Bill

On Friday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “All In,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) stated that vote by mail provisions “will be a very important part of the legislation that we’re going to put forward, and we are going to fight




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Trump Campaign Slams California's Vote-by-Mail Order: 'Wide-Open Opportunity for Fraud'  

President Donald Trump's re-election campaign blasted California Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D-CA) executive order allowing registered voters in the state to vote by mail in the November election, calling it a "thinly-veiled political tactic" aimed at undermining election security. 




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California: Gavin Newsom Orders Vote-by-Mail for November Election

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday signed an executive order permitting all registered voters in the Golden State to vote by mail in the upcoming presidential election, citing health concerns stemming from the Chinese coronavirus epidemic.




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Chechen Migrant Drags French Policeman Over 60 Feet to Escape Virus Check

A Chechen migrant was arrested in the commune of Montereau-Fault-Yonne after dragging a police officer 60 feet with his vehicle while trying to escape a Wuhan coronavirus lockdown checkpoint.




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Italian Nurse on Coronavirus Frontline Raped by Illegal Migrant After Her Shift

An Italian nurse working on the frontline against the Chinese coronavirus was brutally sexually assaulted by an African migrant after finishing her shift and heading to her home.




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Queen Elizabeth Honours War Dead: 'They Died So We Could Live as Free People'

Queen Elizabeth II marked the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day with an address to the British Commonwealth honouring the sacrifice of the fallen.




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Maher: Trump Turning America 'Into a Failed State' 'More Important Than Tara Reade Achieving Closure'

On Friday’s broadcast of HBO’s “Real Time,” host Bill Maher discussed the sexual assault allegations made by Tara Reade against 2020 Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and stated that the matter is a he said, she said,




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Sanders: 'It Would Be an Economic Disaster' if Trump Didn't Fund Postal Service and It 'Went Under'

On Friday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “All In,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) discussed what kind of economic stimulus should be passed to respond to the coronavirus and stated that it would be “an economic disaster” if President Trump didn’t fund the




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Donald Trump Criticized for Greeting World War II Veterans Without Mask

The wreath-laying ceremony took place outdoors on Friday at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, where seven World War II veterans joined the president and first lady.




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Cotton: Chinese Government Made a 'Conscious Decision' to Allow Coronavirus to Get Outside Its Borders

Friday on Fox News Channel's "Your World," Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) argued when determining how and whether or not China was responsible for coronavirus global pandemic, it was undeniable China allowed the virus to spread beyond its borders.




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Hawaii Reports No New COVID-19 Cases as Businesses Begin Reopening

For the first time in eight weeks, Hawaii has reported no new statewide cases of COVID-19, leaving the total case count since the beginning of the pandemic at 629.