Roblin v. Pfizer Canada inc. and al., Quebec Superior Court

(CLASS ACTION)
CANADA
PROVINCE OF QUEBEC
DISTRICT OF MONTREAL
SUPERIOR COURT
NO.: 500-06-000442-083
CHRISTOPHER ROBLIN
Petitioner
v.
PFIZER CANADA INC., et al
Respondents
and
FONDS D' AIDE AUX RECOURS
COLLECTIFS
Mis-en-Cause
MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF A SETTLEMENT
(Art. 20, 1002 and following, 1003, and 1025 C.C.P.)
TO THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE ANDRE PREVOST OF THE SUPERIOR COURT,
THE PETITIONERS RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT AS FOLLOWS:
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CLASS ACTION
I.
As seen in the Court file, Petitioner Christopher Roblin filed a Motion for Authorization
to Institute a Class Action and to Obtain the Status of Representative (the "Claim"), on
or about July II, 2008;
2.
The Petitioner retained the undersigned attorneys, the Merchant Law Group LLP to
represent him;
3.
The facts and allegations of are set out in the Claim, as seen in the Court file;
4.
This Claim relates to the alleged increased risks of negative health effects suffered by
Group Members who consumed Bextra;
5.
The Claim seeks damages for negligence, breach of contract, breach of expressed or
implied warranties and failure to warn. The Claim further seeks reimbursement of the
purchase price paid by the Members of the Group, as well as compensatory, moral and
punitive damages;
RELATED ACTIONS IN OTHER PROVINCES AND SETTLEMENT
6.
The Petitioner joined in a consortium of other plaintiffs in related actions filed across
Canada concerning alleged negative effects of consumption of the drugs Bextra and
Celebrex. This consortium began a series of negotiations with Respondents' counsel
starting in November, 2008, with the intent of settling outstanding legal claims. The
parties participated in two sessions of Court supervised mediation (presided by the
Honourable Louis Lacoursiere of the Quebec Superior Court) in 2010. This mediation
ultimately led to the drafting of the Settlement Agreement, which was executed by the
parties on or about August 23, 2011;
7.
In order to streamline the filing of voluminous documents in these proceedings, this
Motion will make reference to the exhibits previously filed as part of the Revised Motion
for Authorisation of a Class Action and to Obtain the Status of Representative for
Purposes of Settlement, to Appoint a Claims Administrator and to Approve Notice Plans
(the "Authorization Motion"), presented to this Court of August 30, 2011;
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8.
A copy of the French version of the Entente de reglement, with all Exhibits, is filed as
Exhibit P-I to the Authorization Motion;
9.
A copy of the English version of the Settlement Agreement, with all Exhibits, is filed as
Exhibit P-2 to the Authorization Motion;
10.
All defined terms used in this Motion have the same definition as in the Settlement
Agreement;
Il.
The Settlement Agreement provides for the resolution of all related proceedings in
Canada, through certification/authorization and settlement approval by the Courts of
Ontario and Quebec. These related proceedings are the following:
1.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
VI.
Court file No. 0501-05325, Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta, Judicial
District of Calgary;
Court file No. L050897, Supreme Court of British Columbia, Vancouver
Registry Office;
Court file No. CI04-01-40098, Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench, Winnipeg
Centre;
Court file No. « 1992» of 2004, Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench,
Judicial Centre of Regina;
Court file No. S050437, Supreme Court of British Columbia;
Court file No. 0501-05312, Court of Queen's Bench for Alberta, Judicial
District of Calgary;
12. In addition, Court file No. 500-06-000182-028, Union des Consommateurs, et at. v.
Pfizer Canada Inc. (concerning consumption of the drug Celebrex), is concurrently
proceeding before this Court to authorization and settlement approval pursuant to the
Settlement Agreement.
13. Finally, Court file No. 500-06-000266-045, filed by Danielle Jolicoeur in the Quebec
Superior Court, was suspended on January 11,2007, pending final judgment in Court file
No. 500-06-000182-028;
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14. More particularly, the Settlement Agreement calls for the consolidation of an Ontario
National Class, which comprises the three actions as listed below:
i) Vautour, et al v. Pfizer Canada Inc., et ai, Court file No. 05-CV-287488CP;
ii) Waheed v. Pfizer Canada Inc., et ai, Court file No. 04-CV-281149CP, and
iii) Perolta v. Pfizer Canada Inc., et ai, Court file No. 05-CV -282243CP;
15.
These actions were certified by the Honourable Paul Perell of the Ontario Superior Court
of Justice on August 25, 2011. The settlement approval concerning the drugs Bextra and
Celebrex for a class of all persons in Canada, excluding Quebec residents, who purchased
and/or ingested Bextra and/or Celebrex, and a related Family Class (the "Ontario
Actions"), is scheduled for November 29,2011:
16.
In Quebec, the Settlement Agreement calls for a Quebec Class comprising of all persons
resident in Quebec who purchased and/or ingested Bextra and/or Celebrex, and their
estates administrators, or other legal representatives, heirs or beneficiaries, and arelated
Quebec Family Class.
17.
The Quebec Class settlement is proceeding to authorization and settlement approval
through this Roblin Motion for Authorization (for Bextra), and the action Union des
Consommateurs, et al., v. Pfizer Canada Inc., et ai, Court file No. 500-06-000182-028
(for Celebrex).
18.
As seen in the Court file, on August 30, 2011, this Court authorized both the Roblin and
Union des Consommateurs class action motions for settlement purposes, on behalf of the
following group:
All persons resident in Quebec who ingested and/or
purchased Bextra and/or Celebrex, and their estates,
administrators, or other legal representatives, heirs or
beneficiaries (the "Quebec Class" or "Quebec Class
Members '') and
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All spouses, children and parents of Quebec Class Members
who may assert a claim for compensation resulting from the
Quebec Class Member's ingestion of Bextra and/or Celebrex
("Quebec Family Class" or "Quebec Family Class
Members ");
SUMMARY OF THE SETTLEMENT
COMPENSATION
19.
The Settlement Agreement provides for the creation by the Respondents of a Settlement
Fund of $12,000,000.00 from which eligible claimants may receive compensation for
Compensable Injuries, Income Loss Claims, Consumer Claims, and Derivative Claims;
20.
Compensable Injuries means one among a specified list of medical conditions as
described in the Settlement Eligibility Criteria in Exhibit H of the Settlement Agreement.
To have a valid claim under this category the Class Member will have to have ingested
Bextra of Celebrex prior to January I, 2006, and must provide medical records
establishing one of a list of injuries alleged to be associated with the use of Bextra or
Celebrex, including myocardial infarction (heart attack), ischemic stroke, Severe
Cutaneous Adverse Reaction, and/or other cardiac or vascular events. The eligibility of
each claim submitted will be based on an analysis of individual Class Members' medical
records by a Court-appointed Adjudicator. Depending on the number of claims submitted
and the Adjudicators determinations, compensation for eligible Class Members may
range from $5,000.00 to $100,000.00;
21.
Income Loss claims means Class Members who have suffered income loss as a result of
having suffered Compensable Injuries losses;
22.
Consumer Claims means Class Members who purchased Bextra and/or Celebrex prior to
January I, 2006. These claimants may recover up to a maximum of $300.00 by
submitting documents proving such purchases;
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23.
Derivative Claims means any compensation for which Family Class Members may be
eligible;
OPT-OUTS
24.
Pursuant to Section 5 of the Settlement Agreement, Quebec Class and Quebec Family
Class Members who wish to opt-out of this Settlement may do so by sending an Opt-out
Form to the Claims Administrator, using the form filed as Exhibit "E" to this Settlement.
The Opt-out must be received within 45 days of the date of the Notice Date;
25.
If a Quebec Class Member opts-out of the Settlement, all Quebec Family Class Members
connected to the Quebec Class Member will de deemed to have also opted-out of the
Settlement;
26.
The Settlement provides that all Quebec Class Members who validly opt-out of the
Settlement will not be bound by the Settlement, and will not be eligible to receive any
compensation available in the Settlement;
27.
All Quebec Class Members who do not validly opt-out of the Settlement will be deemed
to have chosen to participate in the Settlement and be bound by its terms;
COSTS OF ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER EXPENSES
28.
In addition to compensation payable to Class Members, the costs associated with the
Notice, all administration and adjudication costs, payments to public health insurers, and
a payment of an honorarium to each of the Representative Plaintiffs will be paid out of
the Settlement Fund, as approved by the Courts;
NAMING OF ADMINISTRATOR
29. In the authorization judgment of August 30, 2011, this Court named Collectiva Class
Action Services Inc. as provisional Administrator for the purposes of administering the
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presentation of this settlement approval, notably as concerns the publishing of the Notice
to Members, collecting Opt-outs and Objections from Class Members, and maintaining a
website and telephone system for consultation and use by Class Members;
30. The Petitioner hereby asks that, if the Settlement is approved by this Court, that
Collectiva Class Action Services Inc. be named as Administrator for the Settlement itself;
ADJUDICATORS
31. Per Section 6.I(e) of the Settlement Agreement, the Petitioner hereby asks that this Court
appoint at least two qualified Canadian physicians as Adjudicators, one of which shall be
French speaking;
LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES
32.
As set out in the Settlement, the Respondents shall pay legal fees and expenses of the
plaintiff counsel in the amount that shall be approved by the Courts. These amounts will
come out of the general Settlement Fund. Petitioner counsel will present a separate
motion for approval of legal fees and expenses;
FONDS D' AIDE AUX RECOURS COLLECTIFS AND REMAINING BALANCES
33.
As set out at Section 11.7 of the Settlement Agreement, any undistributed balance
remaining in the Settlement Fund will be distributed on a cy-pres basis, once any legal
claim by the Fonds d'aide aux recours collectif is paid pursuant to law concerning the
Quebec Class or the Quebec Family Class;
APPROVAL OF THE SETTLEMENT
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34.
Pursuant to Article 1025 C.c.P., and Section 6 of the Settlement Agreement, the
Settlement Agreement must be approved by this Court in order to bind the parties.
35.
As part of the authorization Judgment rendered August 30,2011 by this Court, a Notice
to Members (Exhibit C of the Settlement Agreement) shall be published according to the
Notice Plan (Exhibit D of the Settlement Agreement). This Notice will provide all the
necessary information regarding, inter alia, the terms of the Settlement, the procedure for
opt-out or opposition, and the dates of the settlement hearings in the Quebec action and in
the Ontario action;
36.
The Petitioner, Christopher Roblin, was granted the status of Group Representative in this
class action as part of the Judgment of August 30, 2011, authorizing this class action
motion;
37.
The Petitioner hereby asks that the Settlement Agreement be approved by this Court on
the basis that it is just, reasonable, and in the best interests of Group Members;
38.
This Motion is well founded in fact and in law;
FOR THESE REASONS, MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT:
GRANT the present Motion, substantially as set out in the draft Jugement, filed as Exhibit F to
the Entente de reglement, namely:
ACCEULLIR la presente requete;
DECLARER que I'Entente de reglement est equitable, raisonnable et dans Ie meilleur interet des
Membres du groupe du Quebec et des Membres du groupe des families du Quebec;
APPROUVER l'Entente de reglement intervenue entre les parties en reglement de la presente
action;
DECLARER que l'Entente de reglement constitue une transaction en conformite avec l'article
2631 du Code civil du Quebec, laquelle lie toutes les parties et tous les membres de la presente
entente;
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DECLARER que I'Entente, dans son inh~gralite (y compris son preambule, ses definitions et ses
annexes, Ie cas echeant) fait partie integrante dujugement d'approbation;
DECLARER qu'it moins d'etre autrement definis, les termes definis utilises dans Ie present
jugement auront Ie meme sens qui leur sont attribues par I'Entente de reglement;
ORDONNER que Pfizer paye la somme de 12 millions de dollars canadiens (deduction faite des
montants verses pour l'Avis et pour la traduction des documents de I'Entente en vertu des
articles 4.2 et 19.9, respectivement, de I'Entente) en paiement complet de ses obligations en vertu
de I'Entente;
ORDONNER que Ies frais d'administration de I'Entente (itl'exclusion des frais d'adjudication
des reclamations) ne devront pas exceder 250000 $;
DECLARER que sous reserve de l'article 1008 du Code de procedure civile du Quebec, tout
membre du groupe du Quebec qui ne s'est pas exclu du groupe vise par Ie reglement est lie par Ia
presente Entente et Ie jugement d'approbation;
DESIGNER Collectiva services en recours collectifs me. comme Administrateur des
reclamations;
ORDONNER que deux (2) medecins canadiens dument qualifies soient designes, par jugement
uiterieur de cette Cour ainsi que par ordonnance ulterieure de la Cour superieure de justice de
l'Ontario comme Adjudicateurs charges de determiner l'adrnissibilite des Membres du groupe et
que l'un d'entre eux sera francophone;
ORDONNER que I'Entente de reglement lie Ies representants, Ies membres designes ainsi que
tous les Membres du groupe du Quebec (et Ies Membres du groupe des families du Quebec) qui
ne se sont pas valablement exclus de cette action;
ORDONNER que les Membres du groupe du Quebec (et les Membres du groupe des families
du Quebec) qui se sont valablement exclus de ce recours ne soient pas lies par cette Entente et ne
puissent plus participer it ce recours;
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ORDONNER que les Membres du groupe du Quebec (et les Membres du groupe des families
du Quebec) qui ne se sont pas valablement exclus de ce recours soient lies par l'Entente et ne
puissent s'exclure de ce recours a I'avenir;
ORDONNER que pour les fins d'administration du I'Entente, cette Cour exercera un role de
supervision pour les fins de mise en ceuvre, de gestion et d' application de I'Entente de
Reglement, sujet aux termes et conditions prevus al'Entente;
ORDONNER que toute Partie pourra, en tout temps et sur requete, avec avis aux autres Parties,
demander au juge designe au present recours ou
a son successeur ou rempla9ant, des directives
ayant trait ala mise en ceuvre ou aI'interpretation de I'Entente de reglement;
ORDONNER que si, pour un motif quelconque, I'un ou I'autre juge charge de la gestion de
!'instance des recours du Quebec, n'est plus en mesure de s'acquitter de sa charge conformement
a la presente Entente et ses annexes, un autre magistrat du tribunal du Quebec soit designe;
LE TOUT sans frais;
Montreal, September 16 , 2011
I
Attorneys for the Petitioner Christopher Roblin
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AFFIDAVIT
I, the undersigned, Owen Falquero, attorney, practicing my profession with the firm
Merchant Law Group LLP, located at 10 Notre-Dame East, Suite 200, District of
Montreal, Province of Quebec, H2Y 1B7, solemnly declare:
1.
That I am one of the attorneys representing the Petitioner in the present matter;
2.
That I believe that all of the facts alleged in the present Motion for Approval of a
Settlement are true to the best of my knowledge.
AND I HAVE SIGNED:
SOLEMNLY DECLARED TO BEFORE ME
AT MONTREAL, this September 16, 2011
--
C.-- ~
~
CO MISSIONER OF OATHS FOR
A L THE DISTRICTS OF QUEBEC
(
NOTICE OF PRESENTATION
TO:
Me Andre Durocher
Fasken Martineau
800 Rue du Square-Victoria
Bureau 3700
Montreal, Quebec
H4Z 1E9
Attorneys for the Respondents,
Pfizer Canada Inc., Pfizer Inc.,
Pharmacia Canada Inc., and Pharmacia Inc.
TO:
Me Sa my Elnemr
Fonds d'Aide aux Recours Col/ectifs
1 Notre Dame Est, Bureau 10.30
Montreal, Quebec
H2Y 1B6
Attorneys for the Mie-en-cause
TAKE NOTICE that the Motion for Approval of a Settlement shall be presented for
adjudication before the Honourable Andre Prevost of the Quebec Superior Court, at
1Notre-Dame East, Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 1B6, on December 2, 2011, at 9:30 A.M., in
a room to be determined.
DO GOVERN YOURSELVES ACCORDINGLY.
MONTREAL, September 16, 2011
mud/!
:t-~~ ~
MERCHANT LAW GRP LL
Attorneys for the Petitioner Christopher Roblin
,
NQ.: 500-06-000442-083
SUPERIOR COURT
(CLASS ACTION)
DISTRlCT OF MONTREAL
CHRISTOPHER ROBLIN
Petitioner
v.
PFIZER CANADA INC., et al
Respondents
and
FONDS D' AIDE AUX RECOURS
COLLECTIFS
MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF A SETTLEMENT,
AFFIDAVIT AND NOTICE OF PRESENTATION
ORIGINAL
Me Owen Falquero
MERCHANT LAW GROUP LLP
10 Notre-Dame E., Suite 200
Montreal, Quebec H2Y IB7
Telephone: (514) 842-7776 • Telecopier: (514) 842-6687
BC3841