Opinion ID: 164099
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: lost sales evidence

Text: Ms. Gray also contends the trial court erred in excluding evidence relating to whether profit concerns motivated Roche’s failure to issue a stronger warning about Accutane’s possible psychiatric side effects. Specifically, she sought to have her expert witness (a former Roche employee) testify “[Roche’s] failure to warn was attributable to [Roche’s] concern for loss of sales.” Ms. Gray also attempted to introduce documents she claims demonstrated Accutane sales in fact decreased when Roche issued stronger warnings. The trial court excluded the evidence, concluding profit motive was “not an issue,” and evidence relating to profit motive would be “more prejudicial than probative.” Trial courts may only admit “evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.” Fed. R. -21- Evid. 401, 402. Roche’s alleged motive for failing to issue a stronger warning is immaterial to any element of Ms. Gray’s three causes of action, 6 and is therefore inconsequential to the determination of the case. Our review of the trial indicates Roche’s liability turned on whether the jury found: (1) Accutane caused Ms. Gray to suffer from depression; (2) Roche’s warning was inadequate; and (3) Dr. McCauley would have altered Ms. Gray’s treatment had Roche issued a stronger warning. The trial court acted within its discretion under Rule 402 in determining profit motive evidence bore no relevance to the issues posed to the jury. Arguing a Roche representative gave “incorrect” testimony, Ms. Gray 6 Under Oklahoma law, to recover under a manufacturer’s products liability claim, “[a] plaintiff must prove the product was the cause of the injury, that the product was defective when it left the control of the manufacturer, and that the defect made the product unreasonably dangerous to an extent beyond which would be contemplated by the ordinary consumer who purchases it.” Johnson v. Ford Motor Co., 45 P.3d 86, 91 n.12 (Okla. 2002). To recover under a negligence claim, “a plaintiff must establish the concurrent existence of: a duty on the part of the defendant to protect the plaintiff from injury; a failure of the defendant to perform that duty; and an injury to the plaintiff resulting from the failure of the defendant.” Johnson v. Hillcrest Health Ctr., Inc., 70 P.3d 811, 816 (Okla. 2003). To recover for breach of warranty, a plaintiff must prove “the existence of the warranty[,] ... the warranty was broken[,] and that the breach of the warranty was the proximate cause of the loss sustained.” Am. Fertilizer Specialists, Inc. v. Wood, 635 P.2d 592, 595 n.10 (Okla. 1981). Further, when a cause of action is based on a failure to warn claim, a plaintiff “must prove that the drug caused the injury and that the manufacturer breached a duty to warn of possible detrimental reactions.” McKee v. Moore, 648 P.2d 21, 23-24 (Okla. 1982). None of these elements require an inquiry into the defendant’s subjective knowledge, intent, or motive. -22- apparently believes evidence of Accutane sales was also admissible for impeachment purposes. Without record support, Ms. Gray claims the representative testified she was “unaware of any harm [to Roche] which would result from compliance with the [warning the Food and Drug Administration recommended].” Even under Ms. Gray’s description of the testimony, the evidence she sought to offer impeaches the testimony only remotely, if at all. Neither the proposed expert testimony nor Accutane’s sales history reflect on the witness’ knowledge of whether any harm to Roche might have occurred. Due to its minimal probative value, the trial court acted within its discretion in excluding the evidence under Rule 403.