### 1996 D e c i sion s O p inion s of the U nit e d S t a t e s C our t of Appe al s for the Thir d C ir c uit

8-27-1996 

# I n R e: O r thop edic B one

P r e c e de n t i al or N on-P r e c e de n t i al :

D ock e t 96-1131,96-1132

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UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

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Nos. 96-1131 & 96-1132

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IN RE: ORTHOPEDIC BONE SCREW PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION

Scoliosis Research Society and Steven M. Mardj etko, M.D., Petitioners a t No. 96-1131 Appellants at No. 96-1132

_________________________________________ _____ Appeal from the United States District C ourt for the Eastern District of Pennsylvan ia D.C. Civil Action No. MDL-1014

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Argued August 8, 1996

Before: MANSMANN and SCIRICA, Circuit Ju dges and DIAMOND, District Judge

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ORDER OF DISMISSAL

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On January 2, 1996, the Scoliosis Research Society ("SRS") and Steven M. Mardjetko, M.D., filed a moti on seeking to stay public disclosure by plaintiffs of data underl ying a study of the safety and efficacy of bone screws, entitled "A Historical Cohort Study of Pedicle Screw Fixation in Thoracic, Lumbar and Sacral Spinal Fusion." They asserted the data was privileged under the Illinois Medical Studies Act, 5 Ill. Con. Stat. 5/8- 2101 et seq. In a memorandum dated February 14, 1996, t he district court denied the motion. First, the district court found the Illinois Medical Studies Act inapplicable under Fed R. Evid. 501 because it believed "there [was] a pervasive federa l aspect to the litigation," mandating application of the feder al law of privilege. Memorandum and Order, In re: Orthopedic Bone Screw Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1014 at 4 (E.D. Pa. February14, 1996) (Pretrial Order No. 252). Second, the di strict court

found that Illinois law did not govern under Klaxon v. Stentor Electric Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 487 (1941). Finally, t he court reaffirmed its prior ruling that Cohort Study data could be used in public comments to the FDA under Pansy v. Boroug h of Stroudsburg, 23 F.3d 772 (3d Cir. 1994). In a sepa rate memorandum, the district court also denied specific objections of various defendants and intervenors to the disclosur e of Cohort Study data in public comments to the FDA. Memorand um and Order, In re: Orthopedic Bone Screw Products Liability Lit igation, MDL 1014 (E.D. Pa. February 14, 1996) (Pretrial Order N o. 254). On February 20, 1996, SRS and Dr. Mardjetk o filed this appeal and petition for a Writ of Mandamus relating to Pretrial Orders No. 252 and 254. Since that time, plaintiff s have filed public comments with the FDA containing Cohort Stud y data. Because that disclosure cannot now be undone, we wi ll dismiss the appeal and petition as moot. We will also vacate P retrial Orders No. 252 and 254 because SRS and Dr. Mardjetko have, through no fault of their own, been deprived of a review on th e merits of the district court's adverse rulings and ought not to be forced to acquiesce in them. U.S. Bancorp Mortgage Compan y v. Bonner Mall Partnership, 115 S. Ct. 386, 391-92 (1994). O ur order does not affect any other pretrial order. Should the SRS and Dr. Mardjetko raise cla ims of privilege again before the district court, we note that the Supreme Court's recent decision in Medtronic, Inc. v. Lohr, No. 95-886, 64 U.S.L.W. 4625 (June 26, 1996), may bear upon whether the Illinois Medical Studies Act applies to Cohort Study data under Fed. R. Evid. 501. Of course we express no o pinion on the matter and leave this question to the district cour t in the first instance. Each party to bear its own costs.

BY THE COURT,

/s/ Anthony J. Scirica Circuit Judg e

Dated: August 27, 1996