Opinion ID: 1432329
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: r. squibb and sons, inc. and raway pharmaceutical company

Text: The Martins contend that E.R. Squibb and Sons, Inc., and Raway Pharmaceutical Company were not entitled to summary judgment because issues of material fact existed as to whether they supplied the type of DES taken. As to Raway, Martins contend that, because Raway was listed in the drug catalogs as a distributor of DES, there existed a material issue of fact as to whether Raway supplied DES to Ludwig's pharmacy, despite the affidavits of the director of Raway that they never manufactured or distributed DES. Concerning Squibb, the Martins contend a material issue of fact existed as to whether Ludwig's pharmacy sold DES at a price lower than the wholesale price of Squibb's product, despite the fact that Mr. Ludwig indicated that the pharmacy never used Squibb's products. We are in agreement with the Martins that issues of material fact exist as to whether Raway Pharmaceutical Company could have supplied the DES to Ludwig's pharmacy which ultimately reached the appellants. The Martins introduced the industry source books, the Drug Topics  Red Book and American Druggist Blue Book, which identified Raway as selling 100 mg. tablets of DES, the dosage prescribed for Shirley Martin, during the time period of its ingestion. In support of Raway's motion for summary judgment, the director of Raway stated, by way of affidavit, that at no time did Raway Pharmaceutical Company manufacture, distribute, design, produce, or in any way assist in any of the foregoing functions concerning the drug diethylstilbestrol. Considering the facts in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party, a genuine issue of material fact is presented regarding possible manufacture and/or distribution of DES which ultimately reached the Martins. The truth of the director's averments and his credibility are directly at issue where the industry source books conflict with his statements. The grant of summary judgment in favor of E.R. Squibb and Sons, Inc., was proper. The averments of Squibb and pharmacist Ludwig are not susceptible to an interpretation other than that Squibb could not have supplied the DES ingested by Shirley Martin. Mr. Ludwig's testimony established that Ludwig's pharmacy never purchased or sold Squibb's trademarked DES (Stilbetin) and that he was sufficiently familiar with his stock of drugs to state that he did not dispense DES from Squibb to Mrs. Martin. Further, Mr. Ludwig could not have dispensed Squibb's trademarked DES to Mrs. Martin because the retail price paid by Mrs. Martin ($2.25) for 20 100 mg. tablets, was less than the wholesale price for Squibb's trademarked product ($3.20) and Mr. Ludwig did not sell drug products for less than what he had paid for them.