IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, EASTERN DIVISION 

BCBSM, INC., et al.,

 Plaintiffs/Counter-Defendants, 

 v. 

WALGREEN CO. & WALGREENS BOOTS 

ALLIANCE, INC., 

 Defendants/Counter-Plaintiff. 

Case No. 1:20-cv-01853 

 

 Honorable Virginia M. Kendall 

 Honorable Sheila M. Finnegan 

 Related Cases: 

 Case No. 1:20-cv-04738 

 Case No. 1:20-cv-03332 

 Case No. 1:20-cv-01929 

 Case No. 1:20-cv-04940 

 Case No. 1:22-cv-01362 

WALGREEN CO. & WALGREENS BOOTS 

ALLIANCE, INC., 

 Third-Party Plaintiffs, 

 v. 

PRIME THERAPEUTICS LLC, 

 Third-Party Defendant. 

JOINT STATUS REPORT

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Pursuant to the Court’s September 15, 2022 Order (ECF No. 336), the Initial Plaintiffs / 

Counter-Defendants,1

 the Additional Plaintiffs,2 Defendant / Counter-Plaintiff Walgreen Co. 

(“Walgreens”) and Defendant Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (together with Walgreens, 

“Defendants”), and Third-Party Defendant Prime Therapeutics LLC (“Prime”), through their 

respective counsel, respectfully submit the following Joint Status Report. 

I. The Current Deadlines Imposed by the Court and Whether the Matter Has 

Been Referred to the Magistrate Judge in Any Fashion 

A. Deadline for the Close of Fact Discovery 

By order dated September 15, 2022 (ECF No. 336), fact discovery is currently set to close 

on April 28, 2023. 

B. Referral to Magistrate Judge 

On April 11, 2022, the Court referred this case to Magistrate Judge Sheila Finnegan for 

general discovery supervision. (ECF No. 252.) 

 

1

 BCBSM, Inc. (d/b/a Blue Cross and Blue shield of Minnesota); HMO Minnesota (d/b/a Blue 

Plus); Health Options, Inc. (d/b/a Florida Blue HMO); Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North 

Carolina; Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. 

(d/b/a Florida Blue); Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of 

Kansas, Inc.; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc.; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of 

Massachusetts HMO Blue, Inc.; Wellmark, Inc. (d/b/a Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and 

d/b/a Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa); Wellmark of South Dakota, Inc. (d/b/a 

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota); Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc.; 

Wellmark Synergy Health, Inc.; Wellmark Value Health Plan, Inc.; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of 

Arizona, Inc. (d/b/a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and d/b/a AZBLUE); Asuris Northwest 

Health; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Inc.; Cambia Health Solutions, Inc.; Regence 

BlueShield of Idaho, Inc.; Regence BlueCross and BlueShield of Oregon; Regence BlueCross and 

BlueShield of Utah; Regence BlueShield; HealthNow New York, Inc.; Highmark Western New 

York, Inc. (f/k/a Blue Cross of Western New York); Northeastern New York (f/k/a BlueShield of 

Northeastern New York); Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc. (d/b/a Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield 

of New Jersey); and Horizon Healthcare of New Jersey, Inc. (d/b/a Horizon NJ Health). 

2

 CareFirst of Maryland, Inc.; Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc.; CareFirst 

BlueChoice, Inc.; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina; BlueChoice HealthPlan of South 

Carolina, Inc.; Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company, d/b/a/ Blue Cross and Blue Shield 

of Louisiana, and HMO Louisiana, Inc. 

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C. Expert Discovery 

By order dated September 15, 2022 (ECF No. 336), expert discovery is currently governed 

by the following deadlines: 

 June 9, 2023 – Opening expert reports due 

 July 18, 2023 – Rebuttal expert reports due 

 September 1, 2023 – Close of expert discovery 

D. Proposed Pre-Trial Scheduling Order and Dispositive Motions 

By order dated September 15, 2022 (ECF No. 336), the parties are to submit a proposed 

pre-trial scheduling order, including deadlines for dispositive and pre-trial motions, by September 

8, 2023. 

II. The Progress of Discovery 

A. Document Production and Written Interrogatories 

As reported in the September 12, 2022 Joint Status Report, the parties are currently 

engaged in written discovery and continue to produce documents and respond to written 

discovery requests. The parties have continued to engage in a largely productive dialogue 

regarding ongoing discovery obligations and have exchanged letters over the course of the past 

several months and weeks outlining concerns and expectations in this regard. There remain open 

disputes regarding the scope of certain written discovery, on which the parties continue to confer. 

B. Depositions of the Parties and Their Former and Current Employees 

Plaintiffs have taken depositions of two former Walgreens employees. A deposition of 

one current Walgreens employee is scheduled for November 17, 2022. 

The parties have discussed exchanging topic lists for corporate representative depositions 

and expect to agree to a deadline for the exchange this week. 

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C. Parties’ Positions on Discovery Schedule 

Initial Plaintiffs/Counter-Defendants’ Position. 

The Initial Plaintiffs incorporate by reference their comments in prior discovery status 

reports. The Initial Plaintiffs anticipate completing all discovery by the dates currently proscribed 

in the schedule. 

Additional Plaintiffs’ Position. 

The Additional Plaintiffs incorporate by reference their comments in prior discovery status 

reports. The Additional Plaintiffs continue to object to Defendants’ unwarranted attempt to stymie 

the Additional Plaintiffs’ participation in discovery thus far through their unilateral declaration—

without moving the Court for an order mandating the same—that discovery is stayed until the 

Court resolves the pending dispositive motions. 

Defendants’ Position. 

Defendants believe that fact discovery can be completed within the current schedule 

provided that certain fundamental issues underlying Initial Plaintiffs’ document productions can 

be resolved promptly and all Plaintiffs can complete their document productions with dispatch. 

Absent such a prompt resolution, Defendants anticipate needing to file a motion to compel for the 

Court’s intervention in these matters such that Defendants can get sufficient document discovery 

with enough time to complete their depositions within the current schedule. 

Defendants again incorporate by reference their response to the Additional Plaintiffs’ 

assertion that Defendants are attempting to “stymie” the Additional Plaintiffs’ participation in 

discovery. In particular, Defendants reiterate the Court’s prior directive at the July 16, 2020, 

hearing in this matter, quoted in the June 24 Status Report, and note Defendants’ pending motion 

to dismiss the Additional Plaintiffs’ complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. See Dkt. 294

at 4, quoting 7/16/20 Hrg. Tr. at 13:7-8 (“You shouldn’t do any discovery if we have a discussion—

Case: 1:20-cv-01853 Document #: 337 Filed: 10/18/22 Page 4 of 10 PageID #:7062
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a dispute, rather, regarding jurisdiction.”), 14:16-18 (“I normally do not go forward with discovery 

when we have any kind of motion to dismiss for jurisdictional purposes.”). Defendants’ intend to 

follow Judge Kendall’s instructions from the July 16, 2020 hearing. 

Third-Party Defendant, Prime’s Position. 

Prime expects to complete all discovery within the dates in the current scheduling order. 

III. Other Third-Party Discovery 

The Initial Plaintiffs/Counter-Defendants have issued subpoenas to the following thirdparty entities: 

 National Council of Prescription Drug Programs, Inc. 

 Pharmaceutical Care Management Association 

 Costco Wholesale Corporation 

 The Kroger Co. 

 Elixir Rx Solutions, LLC 

 GoodRx Holdings, Inc. 

 Klix, LLC d/b/a Easy Drug Card 

 Towers Administrators LLC d/b/a SingleCare Administrators 

 NeedyMeds, Inc. 

 U.S. Pharmacy Card, LLC 

 Discount Drug Network, LLC 

 Texas Health and Human Services 

 Oregon Health Authority 

 Connecticut Department of Social Services 

The Additional Plaintiffs have issued subpoenas to the following third-party entities: 

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 Caremark, LLC 

 Express Scripts, Inc. 

 OptumRx, Inc. 

 Walmart, Inc. 

 Target Corporation 

 WAGDCO, LLC 

 MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc. 

 Envolve Pharmacy Solutions Pharmacy Solutions, Inc. 

 Leehar Distributors, LLC 

 Medical Security Card Company, LLC 

Defendants / Counter-Plaintiff have issued subpoenas to the following third parties: 

 Bretta Grinsteinner 

 Blue Cross Blue Shield Association 

 Caremark, LLC 

 Express Scripts, Inc. 

 MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc. 

 OptumRx, Inc. 

 Preferred Care Services, Inc. 

 EPIC Pharmacy Network, Inc. 

 Health Mart Atlas, LLC 

 Wholesale Alliance, LLC 

IV. The Status of Discovery Motions 

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The parties have not filed any discovery motions to date. However, the Initial Plaintiffs 

and Additional Plaintiffs intend this week to move to compel the production of certain documents 

recently clawed back by Walgreens based on a claim of privilege or protection. 

V. Whether the Parties Have Engaged or Are Engaging in Settlement Discussions 

The parties have not engaged in settlement discussions. 

VI. Whether the Parties Believe a Telephonic Hearing or In-Person Hearing Is 

Necessary Within the Next 60 Days 

In the event that any party files a motion to compel, the parties anticipate a need for a 

hearing to resolve any such motion(s). Absent such a motion, the parties do not anticipate the 

need for a hearing within the next 60 days. Pursuant to the Court’s May 25, 2022, Order (ECF 

No. 276), the parties shall continue to provide joint status reports at 30-day intervals. Subject to 

the Court’s approval, the parties will file the next status report by November 18, 2022. 

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Dated: October 18, 2022 Respectfully submitted, 

David L. Applegate (IL Bar# 3122573) 

Brigid E. Kennedy (IL Bar # 6201446 

WILLIAMS & JOHN LTD. 

Suite 6800 Willis Tower 233 S. Wacker Drive 

Chicago, Illinois 60606 

Telephone: (312) 443-3200 

Facsimile: (312) 630-8500 

dla@willjohnlaw.com 

By: /s/ Kelly H. Hibbert 

Kent A. Gardiner (D.C. Bar No. 432081)* 

Stephen J. McBrady (D.C. Bar No. 978847)* 

Kelly H. Hibbert (D.C. Bar No. 1006010)* 

Justin D. Kingsolver (N.D. Ill. Bar No. 

6320926) 

CROWELL & MORING LLP 

1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW 

Washington, D.C. 20004 

Telephone: (202) 624-2500 

Facsimile: (202) 628-5116 

KGardiner@crowell.com 

SMcBrady@crowell.com 

KHibbert@crowell.com 

JKingsolver@crowell.com 

Trisha M. Rich (IL Bar No. 6288544) 

Holland & Knight LLP 

150 N Riverside Plaza 

Suite 2700 

Chicago, IL 60606 

Telephone: (312) 263-3600 

trisha.rich@hklaw.com 

Peter R. Jarvis 

Holland & Knight LLP 

601 SW Second Avenue 

Suite 1800 

Portland, OR 97204 

Telephone: (503) 243-5877 

Peter.jarvis@hklaw.com 

Timothy J. Conner 

Holland & Knight LLP 

50 N Laura Street 

Suite 3900 

Jacksonville, FL 32202 

Telephone: (904) 798-7362 

Timothy.conner@hklaw.com 

* Admitted pro hac vice 

Attorneys for Initial Plaintiffs / CounterDefendants

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By: /s/ Timothy R. Farrell 

Laura G. Hoey 

Jeffrey J. Bushofsky 

Timothy R. Farrell 

Charles D. Zagnoli 

ROPES & GRAY LLP

191 N. Wacker Drive 

32nd Floor 

Chicago, IL 60606 

Telephone: (312) 845-1200 

Facsimile: (312) 845-5522 

Laura.Hoey@ropesgray.com 

Jeffrey.Bushofsky@ropesgray.com 

Timothy.Farrell@ropesgray.com 

Charles.Zagnoli@ropesgray.com 

Attorneys for Defendants / Counter-Plaintiff

By: /s/ Robert B. Gilmore 

Robert B. Gilmore (admitted pro hac vice) 

Michael A. Petrino (pro hac vice forthcoming) 

Kevin J. Attridge (pro hac vice forthcoming) 

Susie Kim (pro hac vice forthcoming) 

Megan Benevento (pro hac vice forthcoming) 

STEIN MITCHELL BEATO & MISSNER

LLP 

901 15th Street, N.W., Suite 700 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

Tel: (202) 737-7777 

Fax: (202) 296-8312 

rgilmore@steinmitchell.com 

mpetrino@steinmitchell.com 

kattridge@steinmitchell.com 

skim@steinmitchell.com 

mbenevento@steinmitchell.com 

Samera Syeda Ludwig 

L&G LAW GROUP LLP 

175 West Jackson Blvd, Suite 950 

Chicago, Illinois 60604 

Tel: (312) 364-2500 

Fax: (312) 364-1003 

sludwig@lgcounsel.com

Attorneys for the Additional Plaintiffs

Forsgren Fisher McCalmont DeMarea 

Tysver LLP 

Robert J. Gilbertson 

Virginia R. McCalmont 

225 South Sixth Street, Suite 1750 

Minneapolis, MN 55402 

(612) 474-3300 

bgilbertson@forsgrenfisher.com 

vmccalmont@forsgrenfisher.com 

By: /s/ Robert J. Gilbertson 

SALVATORE PRESCOTT PORTER & 

PORTER, PLLC 

Andrew C. Porter 

Andrea L. Evans 

1010 Davis Street 

Evanston, IL 60201 

(312) 283-5711 

aporter@sppplaw.com 

evans@sppplaw.com 

Attorneys for Third-Party Defendant Prime 

Therapeutics LLC

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

I, Charles D. Zagnoli, an attorney authorized to practice before this Court, hereby 

certify that the foregoing Join Status Report was electronically filed on October 18, 2022, and 

will be served electronically via the Court’s ECF Notice system upon the registered parties 

and counsel of record. 

/s/ Charles D. Zagnoli 

Charles D. Zagnoli 

ROPES & GRAY LLP

191 N. Wacker Drive 

32nd Floor 

Chicago, IL 60606 

Telephone: (312) 845-1200 

Facsimile: (312) 845-5522 

Charles.Zagnoli@ropesgray.com 

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