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`19-2155
`In Re: Mirena IUS Levonorgestrel-Related Products Liability Litigation (No. II)
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`UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
`FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
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`August Term 2020
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`(Argued: December 2, 2020 Decided: December 8,2020)
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`Docket No. 19-2155
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`IN RE: MIRENA IUS LEVONORGESTREL-RELATED PRODUCTS LIABILITY
`LITIGATION (NO. II)
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`ABRA CONING, KAYLA TALLEY, TIFFANY HAUSNER, SHANE HAUSNER, SHELAIN
`COOPER, ALLISON SIMPSON, AMELIA HOLMAN MILES, JONATHAN MILES,
`JESSICA GUGLIELMO, MEGAN ROBINSON, KIMBERLY BLACK, CHAQUITA DUDLEY,
`KELLY RIEGEL-GREEN, DANISE HOFFMAN, JACQUELINE GOYENA, JANELLE
`PALLANSCH, BRITTANY GRECO, MISTY SOLOMON, DAPHNE HOUCK, HOLLY
`ALLEN, JENNIFER SANTIAGO, MELANIE HOWE, MISTY MCCANDLESS, ANGELA
`KLOPFENSTEIN, ADAM KLOPFENSTEIN, CATIE KESSLER, JACLYN SPETT, ABIGAIL
`MICHEL, CHERIE MCGEE, BRITTANY WILSON, BREANNA PIETERS, ELLEN BURNS,
`INDIVIDUALLY, DAVID BURNS, LAURA BURNS, WHITNEY WALKER, JESSICA
`WATSON, KARNA LYNNE PETTLON, AMBERLY BUCKNER, CARLEY HAMILTON,
`DANIELLA PAVELKA, ANDREA JOHNSON, CHRISTINA STEPHANIE ALBERTSON,
`ABIGAIL THIESING, AMANDA MASSIE, AMY EDWARDS, SHERRICKER RODGERS,
`ANNALISSA SANCHEZ, NICOLE VINCENT, LIANA ERB, SARAH MARIE WESSEL,
`KATIE MYERS, LATOYA S. THOMPSON, ASHLEY BABICH-ZACHARIAS, BETHANY
`VINCENT, WHITNEY MANCHEL WASHINGTON, LAUREN HARDWICK, BRITTANY
`S. SMITH, ELIZABETH HEAGY, BARBARA ANDERSON, SHAMARA VON LANE,
`CRYSTAL VAZQUEZ, BRITTANY COLLINS, ASHLEY NOBLES-HOBBS, SHAKARA
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page2 of 22
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`CARTER, MIRANDA GLEDHILL, MELISSA TOLBERT, DEVON MAHLSTEDT,
`DANIELLE ADAMS, LAUREN CARMAN, ANNA CONLEY, STEPHANIE DAWSON,
`ANDREA GEE, VICTORIA LEE, LACEY LANGSTON SANDERLIN, ASHLEY AMBER
`COCKRELL, SHAWNA LOUISE COOPER, MARYSSA REESE, CARNESHIA CASON,
`KASEY GARRISON, ASHLEY STEED, STEFFANIE MICHELLE DENNIS, JESSICA MARIE
`PETERSON, KASEY JACKSON, LESLIE MARIE COAPMAN, LATRICIA ANDERSON
`JOHNSON, MARY MARGARET COTTINGHAM, SHAMEKA M. BRIDGES, PETERSON
`BRIDGES, LATONYA HOSKIN, KRISTEN DENISE BRYAN, SAMANTHA LIFORD,
`CHRISTI UTLEY, JESSICA STANLEY, MACEY BEELER, NOELLE HICKEY, CRYSTAL
`TAYLOR, VALERIE TOWNSEND, ANDREA VEGA, AMANDA EVANS, BREANNA
`WILLIAMS, MANDY MITLYNG, LYSSA KIRK, MARSHA SAPP HANKINS, LEAH
`FACKRELL, TIARA MITCHELL, SIOBHAN SCHALL, KATHLEEN CHEEK, BILLY
`CHEEK, NICOLE HAMILL, KAREAMA PATTERSON, KYLARA BOOTH, DANIEL
`PARSONS, CHRISTA DIEHL, VANESSA BOURGOIN, DANIEL BOURGOIN, KARA
`STANLEY, TIFFANY SAWYER, CAITLYN ABOULBA, KEYSA ELLIS, MARIA AGUILAR,
`ELLEN BURNS, AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OR EXECUTRIX OR ADMINISTRATRIX
`OF THE ESTATE OF ANNE ALDEN BURNS, AMANDA CLARK, TAQUOYA
`KERYAWNA WILLIAMS, MARIA PITTS, HEATHER NICOLLE MCMULLAN, NICOLE
`LASSO, RANDI WHITE, HEATHER ONSUM STOOPS, JANEKA HAYNES, SHENEQUA
`PERDUE, RACHEL FREITAS, KATRINA EVERETT-CAREY, NAYELI JUAREZ-GARCIA,
`MELISSA FRANCES HALL, ELIZABETH ADAMS, SYLVIA GREER, NI'MATULLAH
`KING, MARIE SHIVER, SUSAN TOOMEY, MEGAN HARRIS, KATHRYN ASBEL, ASHLI
`GARNER, LISA VALLERY, BRITTANY NICOLE JAMES, SARA TESS SANBORN,
`ROBERT ZINN, KIMBERLY STIER, DEWAYNA DENILLE BROWN, LOIS MICHELLE
`PALMER, KELLI SALAZAR, JESSICA ROBERSON, STACY BRYAN, STEVEN BRYAN,
`REBECCA ELWOOD, AMBER HANSON, REBEKAH ROGERS, TESSA WATTS, SHEREE
`MITCHELL, LASHONDA ROBINS, MISTY REITZ, BERNESHA MEANS, SAMANTHA
`DAVIS, TAMATHA TUCKER-WHITAKER, MISTY COLEMAN-WOODS, SHARON
`CAIN, SHANNON WALKER, STEPHANIE SCHLUETER, KATHARINE WELLS,
`CYNTHIA GUNN, JESSICA HIXSON ROBINSON, JESSICA GARDNER, CATHERINE
`DIANNE BEITEL, CHRISTY NICOLE MCGREGOR, AMBER DARLENE PROUT,
`AMANDA LEEANN BARBER, ALETA BREK RICHARDS, ERICA SILVA, JOHN SILVA,
`III, AMY HODGE, JOANNA LYNN LUCERO, KELSEY RAMM, KATIE REBECCA
`LAWRENCE, KELLI BOYT ROWLAND, CANDICE SMALL, JADE A. LUDWIKOWSKI,
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page3 of 22
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`SHAHIRA OSMAN, NAQUASHA RISER, LAUREN ELIZABETH SINGLETON, JETTA
`ALLEN, JULIANA CATARINA HERNANDEZ, TIRZAH MARIE ELLET, KAYLA SCOTT,
`TOMEKA WILLIAMS-JAMES, COURTNEY TRENNEPOHL, TIFFANY COLLINS, STACY
`CAMINO, KATHLEEN FOX, CHANTHINIA WHITE, BRIANNA PETERS, DEVINA
`WILLIAMS, CHAVON PLANGE, SADIE MILLER, STEPHANIE SELLERS, FREDDREKIA
`BRADLEY, STARLA MCCOLLUM, LACEY HUBERT, ANAIS FORCIER, JENNIFER URE,
`RHONDA PEZZULLO, RACHAEL NIKL, ALECIA CONNER, KIMMI VESEY, DEANNA
`MOONEY, MARLENE MENDEZ, CIERA TURNER, TYSHEA MOTT, MELISSA
`POLOMSKY, HEATHER KURAMOTO, JESSICA BIHLER, LAMARA WALKER, CANDICE
`BAILEY, ALYSSA JOHNSON, KRISTIN CARRICO, GLORIBI PASTOR, CHANDRA
`BROWN, JULIA MEACHEM, SHAQUANDA MCMILLION, LAKEYSHIA TATE, ASHLEY
`MCLUCKIE, KATELYNN HAMMOND, DORETHA SMITH, LAUREN HOLLOBAUGH,
`GEMBELLE HORLACHER, KIMBERLY BURKHART, KIMBERLY MACAULAY,
`MARISOL MARCANO, ASHLYN HACKWORTH-WILLIAMS, NADINE KELLAM,
`JONEL EDWARDS, ELIZABETH MONTANARO, STEPHANIE BREWER, ANGELINE
`STANGER, JESSICA ROSELAND, JACOB ROSELAND, NICOLE ASKIN, CHRISTIE
`EPPERLY, TIFFANY MOSLEY, NICOLE CLARK, NAOMI WILSON, PORSCHE
`PATTERSON, NATASHKA MILLER, KAREN CREAR, STACIE HUFFER, LATOYA
`HUNT, LAUREN ROBERTS, BRITTANY THOMAS, AMBER HODA, CHRISTAL BAUGH,
`ARIN BOEHMER, JENNIFER DRAYTON, CHRISTINA HOLLAND, NIKIA BROWN,
`ALANA SIRMANS, ROSANNA KNUDSEN, MICHELLE MORGAN, MAUREEN
`GARRETT, NICOLE PARKER, CONSTANCE STEELE, AMANDA GOODLET, KIMBERLY
`HENAO, BRIANNA BLACKMAN, ANGELA NORRED, JESSIKA ALLEN, PATRICE
`RENEE FRANK, CHRISTINA REID, REVA MCDONALD, CASSANDRA N. JOHNSON,
`FAITH LAW, JERALYN WILEY, JEFKIDA JOHNSON-STINSON, JALISA CRAPO,
`STEPHANIE GRADY, SIMIN KASHANI, IEACHA JACKSON, ALEXANDRA HAINES,
`HEIDI THOMAS, LATOYA KENDRIX, SARAH ANNE MCLAUGHLIN, TIERRA HALL,
`JAMISHA DYER, AMY AMMONS, STEPHANIE ADAMS, ANDREA LUCERO, JESSICA
`LYNN SIMMONS, KRISTEN CAMPBELL, LAURA BRYAN, AIDA LOZADA, TABITHA
`LEE, AMANDA PICHLA, LATORIA WOODALL, BRITTANY WATKINS, ERENDIRA
`CUEVAS, LINDSEY ROSS, CRYSTAL COVERT, CATHERINA ANDRADE, KENDRA
`WICKWARE, KELLY CICHETTI, ASIA SHAKESPEARE, SAMANTHA STAATS, HALEY
`HENN, JENNIFER LEGASSIE, DESHONDA KNIGHT, TABITHA SAYLOR, ELIZABETH
`K. MOORE, SIERRA MOORE, TAMARA WHALIN, BRITTANY HARSCH, KRISTEN N.
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page4 of 22
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`CHANDLER, BARBARA NAPIER, STEPHANIE BENNETT, JESSICA KILBOURNE,
`DONISHA BISHOP, MARGARET BENDER, CHELSEA M. SAWYER, GUADALUPE
`PINEDA, SHA.DEBRA COLLIER, VALERIE ARTHUR, CHRISTY S. MURPHY, JESSICA
`HUPMAN, JENNIFER SAND-SHEQUEN, DANA Y. COOPER, JENNIFER GUZDEK,
`TRICIA PONICKI, TRACY D. GOULD, CORTNIE SHORT, DAVID RODRIGUEZ, JESSICA
`NIESLAWSKI, KARLA M. DUELLEY, NATALEE WILLIAMS, STEPHANIE BURT,
`PAULA C. GARCIA, JULIE NELSON, HEATHER BAKER, DAPHNE FRANKLIN,
`ANDREA MARTINEZ, ESHIA DAVIS, JUANITA FIGUEROA, DAWN BREEN, KINDRA
`NELSON, AMBER R. DRYDEN, ASHLEY PEARSON, MELISSA S. HOPKINS,
`MARQUITA WILLIAMS, JESSICA CASH, ELIZABETH BRYCE, NICOLE PERKINS,
`MARY WALKER, MADISON FOWLER, ALAINA DICE, TONI STREETER, CHEETARR
`JACKSON, APRIL ROBERTSON, KELSEY HARRIS, SIERRA RADDEN, MARQUSEY
`EVANS, DALIA JASSO, KAITLYN SKLENAR, STEPHANIE PELLETIER, SONYA
`RAMSEY, CHEYLO COLLADO, DETRA FERGUSON, ALISON ASHCROFT, JEANIE
`LASCELLES, LORI ANNALORA, STEPHANIE STOCKMAN, TIERRA JACKSON, AMBER
`OSTERMILLER-FORD, AMANDA STEVENS, KATHERINE SOTELO, TONI IVY, ERICKA
`JONES-GEORGE, DONNA RAWDON, PAULENA WHITE, STEPHANIE CLARK,
`JESSICA CROUSE, KATI VALENTINE, ANALYCIA SANCHEZ, ERICA SMITH,
`GABRIELLE HOFFMAN, SAMANTHA WILLIAMS, SHAQUETTA FELDER, CHARMINA
`LEWIS, TANIA KENT, MARQUISA JOHNSON, NICOLE JACKSON, EMILLIE HOPPER,
`KRISTY COLLINS, SAMANTHA ALLEN, SARA WASHBURN, STEPHANIE TREAT,
`KIMBERLY MCKINNEY, TANIQUA BLETCHER, CRYSTAL RODGERS, SANDY TATUM,
`TIFFANY DEBUSK, AMANDA CRITES, ANISHA LONGMIRE, BETH BURTON, KAY
`PAGE, SHAVONTE JOHNSON, JULIA FERGUSON, DESIREE SAENZ, TRISTYN
`ARIYAN, DODIE ARNOLD, KIMBERLY MOULTON, JOAN REDFIELD, REBECCA
`DURDEN, CAROLYN SUTTON, TYMEIKA BASKIN, LILLIE BATTLE-EASON,
`RACHELLE LILLY, ANGELA HENDERSON, BRITTANY SHUMPERT, DANIELLE
`WEHRLEY, NICHOLE HITCHCOCK, JAMIE O'BRYAN, MEGAN DEAN, JOANNA
`MOMOKO CLINE, SHARI HERNANDEZ, KATHERINE JACOBSEN, LINDSAY MILLER,
`ANGELA ROSE PADILLA, JASMAN AL-SHWAIYAT, CHESSICA MAUS, CHRISTINE
`WILSON, JAIMER PELLER, ARLENE CORDERO, JULIE GONZALEZ, JENNIFER HULL,
`WENDY BROWN, AMANDA WAITE, TANAZIA MCCANTS, ALEXANDRIA ESTRADA,
`ALEXIS WALTON, KAYLA OWENS, CORNEISHA FOSTER, ERIKA NACKE, BRIANA
`GARNER, ELIZABETH PAIGE, SHARLA BERNDT, KESHIA BARNETTE, DEVON
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page5 of 22
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`PINCKNEY, PORSCHE DAVIS, KHELEE SAWYER, DAFFNEY HICKS, ZEBERA
`LAUNIUS, CHARLA MYERS-PERKINS, WILMA F. MITCHELL, QUINEISHA JUDD,
`MOKEDA ALEXANDER, KENDRA HILL, VALIENCIA PARKER, DARNESIA FINKLEY,
`MARY NORTON, ASHLEY MANDOLINE, JESSICA WATSON, COURTNEY SMITH,
`SARA SUTPHIN, KELLY HARRIGAN, JACQUELINE SHERLEY-DOUGLAS, NICOLE
`SWEITZER, TONJA ABIAKAM, JENNIFER DRAUGHN, HATTIE HANSEN, KHADIJAH
`ROBINSON, TONI E. COLEMAN, BRANDY FLETCHER, ANDREA ROBINSON, BRIANA
`STILLS, ALICIA THAMES, JESSICA GRABILL, VIVIAN DAIGLE, KELLY REIS, LESLIE
`MARTIN, ANGELA ROBINSON, GINGER KUCHLER, KARLENA JENKS, TESS MORSE,
`TAMMI MILLER, TINA WEBBER, AMANDA HARVEY, LAUREN DONALDSON,
`CATHERINE KING, BRANDI GEDDINGS, BRIGITTE COCKCROFT, ANN EVERETT,
`PEGGY POSPICHEL, SHONTON L. BURTON, SHANEEN THOMPSON, NICOLE
`AMARO, MICHELLE WHITTED, TERI CARMICHEAL, LAURA GABRIEL, BRIANA
`MCCRANIE, HEATHER HEMBERGER, TAMI UNROE, CHARLENE GOMEZ, CHELSEA
`COULTER, ALIYA QUICK, ARIELLE CATRON, BRIDGET COBURN, ASHLEY
`ANTKOWIAK, KATIE LYNN ARABIE, JILL GENOVESI, STEPHANIE COEN, JULIE
`GARCIA, KAYLA FAULKNER, MELISSA SNOW, AISLYNN POUNDS, CORA CLEAR,
`KARRIE SHIELDS, CHRISTON FORE, KIMBERLY HAMILTON, SHUNIKA
`HEMINGWAY, CASSANDRA BECKER, DANYELL RUSSELL, ERICA OWENS,
`CATHERINE MARTINEZ, KIMBERLY GRANT, JACLYN HERALD, BROOKE BIRGE,
`TIFFANI DALTON, STACY BETH SWENTON, BRANDI CARROLL, ASHLEY
`RODRIGUEZ, KRISTIN ANDRICK, KERI RICE, STEFANIE THACKER, LAURA FRISBY,
`LINDSEY GRADY, BESS PATTERSON, ALYSTA ESPINAL, AISHA CUFFIE, EMILY
`COKRLIE, TAMMY SCHATZBERG, JAIME POWELL, SHELBY LUANN MCCAIN,
`MELISSA FUSCO, JANELL DAVIS, ALICIA RUFFIN, ANGELA KOLEBUCK UTZ,
`JENNIFER BAXTER, AIMEE GALLOWAY, TINA PERSONETTE, HANNAH RUTLEDGE,
`KATIE ARABIE, TONINA BARTLES, CATHERINE JENSEN, BRIANNA SMITH,
`SHANEKUA WATKINS, DESIREE LEMASTER, APRIL GALLOWAY, QUASHUNNA
`MILLER, RACHEL MCINTYRE, SUNDRIA CARROLL, DENISE FORD, VICTORIA
`KYAKUWA, SHANTELLA BROWN SANDERS, GRACE DIXON, CHANELL WINN,
`ASHA' ANA THOMAS, LINDSEY CADWELL, ROBIN COLEMAN, AMANDA SAILORS,
`LAURA BOYCE, MICHELLE THOMAS, LISA KUEHL, JERRY JANE WYNNE,
`CHYNEICE OLIVER, CYNTHIA MAURO, DANIELLE HOLT, ANDREA NOVAK,
`MICHELLE KAPLAN, LYCIA SLEDGE, QUANTASHIA MOSLEY-MORRIS, LATOYA
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page6 of 22
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`STEVENSON, DONNA HARRIS, KAYLA CLAYTON, SEDONA BLAKE, KAMILLE
`TURNBOW, CINDEL DOWNS, CANDICE ARNWINE, ALYXIS FELTUS, DEVON
`PARKER, KIERA MCCLENDON, CATHERINE GODFREY, KATIE DECKER, LATASHA
`MONET, EBONY RAY, CHARLES MONET, ANDREA EASTER, WHITNEY ROBERTS,
`SHANELLE HARRIS, JILL SNEED, JOY MYERS, KEONA BURTON, PAIGE OLSON,
`MARY JO TRACEY, TANISHA JONES, CHRISTINA RAY, LATARSHA PASCHAL, EMILY
`SPRINGER, RACHEL ELIZABETH SAMMONS, ERICA RODRIGUEZ, LARISSA WAY,
`MICHELLE VAETH, RIKKI SATTERFIELD, LEQUITA NEELY, TAMEKIA PERTEET,
`MELISSA MARTIN, NICHOLE THOMAS, ELIZABETH OLSON, KIMBERLY TAFFER,
`KAITLIN STRINGFELLOW, MAGAN WILLS, DAVID STRINGFELLOW, HOPE GAYLE,
`ALFREDA BOLDEN, SYLVIA HAGANS, LAVONDA LEWIS, JENNIFER SISSON,
`RICKEYA FREEMAN, CHANDRA MASON, CALLIE JORDAN, ROXANNE BENDICK,
`ASHLEY MCCUNE, COSETTE POSORSKI, OLUSHOLA WALKER, MICHELLE
`RUTHERFORD, NIJA JOHNSON, AMBER LARGE, TASHENA EASON, KHALILAH
`BOWENS, SARAH JENKINS, LEAH SOUTHARD, MAURISSA HARRIS, CLARITY
`PAVON-MOORE, NICOLE MAJOR, TANKIA RHODES, CARRIE THOMPSON, CARRIE
`THOMPSON, DYONCHE WILLIS, KIMBERLY BARROW, ADRIENNE SEUZENEAU,
`DAVITA ROBINSON, ROSEAN MOORE, JENNIFER DUCRE, MADONNA LYNN
`DUGAS, KALENA WILLIAMS, LARYNA LEWIS, MARIAN CALE, MARIAN CALE,
`JULIE SPENCER, GASHIA WILLIAMS, TYRUNSIA LOWE, SHANTRELL TALTON,
`ADRIAN CLARK, TONIA BLALOCK, ERICA WILLIAMS, SARAH HAFER, MEGAN
`MILLER, MONICA ANDERTON, KATOMIA MORRIS, MALKIA WOODWARD,
`JASMINE HOWARD, AUDREY JOINES, ANDRIA REED, KRYSTLE WOOD, AMANDA
`SANTORO, TRUEMEKA WALLACE, KENDRA PATTERSON, CHERYL DANIELLE
`BRODFEHRER, LATOYA GREEN, TAMMY MICHELLE HOUSE, SUZIE DANGERFIELD,
`SELENA IRVIN, LATOSHA LEWIS, MAGUILE SEYMOUR, ALECIA HENRY, CANDACE
`CROVETTO, GEORGIA FOSTER, KAQANTE BROWN, MAKEYTA ANDERSON,
`TACHICKA ROBINSON, TIERRA SLACK, JERICA SCHAFFER, KATRICE ROUSSELL,
`LAVONDA DAVENPORT, BRITNEY THOMPSON, LAUREN DAVREN, BONNIE
`CEDANO, DESHAUNNA JOHNSON, CHASSIDY FRUGE, KEISHA SEWARD, FALLON
`EVANS, NICOLE WHITE, KELLY CASNAVE, TYNA REESE, LORI HARTFORD,
`WILLETTE SMITH, BRANDI FAVORS, SHONTAE BLOUNT, JEVON BOGAN,
`SHADANA RELIFORD-PALMER, KATHLEEN MOLINA, L'TICIA SIAS, JESSICA
`OQUELI, ANITA LONG, JENNIFER LYNN CARR-AMONETT, CIARA HAYES, NADIA
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page7 of 22
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`BODY, ALINKIE JOSEPH, JULIE LAVIGNE, EBONEE RICHARDSON, ELIZABETH
`DAMRON, NEDRA BELL, NATASHA MANNING, ANITRA WADE, LESLIE BERRY,
`CARRIE BREAUX, JESSICA JETT, TRICHELLE HARRISON ROBINSON, SCHAMEKA
`SANTA CRUZE, ANNE GUILLOT, PATRICE WEBSTER, FELITA DOOLEY, TRASULA
`CLARK, SHANTELL FIELDS, ANGELINA SHARIDAN, TERRAINE ZENO, SHARON
`TOUPS, ALISHA SCUDDER, KAYTLIN RAINES, LESLEE DIAZ, EBONY TAYLOR, JILL
`JOHNSON, SHERRIE LEWIS, SHARISH DAVIS, MELINDA JOSEPH, BRIGETTE MORRIS,
`PAULA D'AMICO, LEONA JIMMERSON, JENNIFER GIBLIANT, QUINTELLA LANDRY,
`RENEE PILCHER, DELILAH PEREZ, LESLIE FATZ, LEIGH RODERICK, JERRELDA
`SANDERS, HAILEY SHELTON, CINDY N. BEST, KATHLEEN RENATA SEEGERS,
`NICHOLE HILLER, JENNIFER SULLIVAN, KELSEY JACKSON, KEMISHA WILDER,
`ANNE WILSON, QUIANA BRYANT, KIMBERLY DAVIS, HEATHER GARCIA, JESSICA
`FULLER, LATONYA HILLIARD, AMANDA WILSON, AMBER FENNELL, NAOMI
`WILLIAMS, KELLY KENNEDY, MELISSA DILOSA, KIMBERLY JACKSON, SHAWN
`AUGUST, KAREN FRANCIS, BETTY WEMPE, HEATHER CRUVER, SEQUILLA
`GARRETT, SHAMIKKI SHIPP, KATRINA STEVENSON, KEIONNE THOMPSON,
`DONISHA BUTLER, SHELIA SPEARMAN, DANIELLE SCHMIDT, ROBIN GUIDRY, KIA
`BARNES, AMBER BRUEGGERT, JASMINE BAYNHAM, MONIQUE DUNMILES,
`JOZZETTE RANDLE, ALEXIS GALLIEN, LISA CLANTON, JESSICA WHITE, INGRID
`BUSTOS, RHONDA DIAMOND, JODIE SWOFFER, CHELSEY BAUDOIN, DENISE
`ANCAR, TANIKA BRUMFIELD, MARY SMITH, ANGELL NAVARRE, EVE SIMS,
`DANIELLE BUTLER, KYONDRA ALBERT, ANDREA BRUNO, KEYSHARA ARMSTEAD,
`BRIDGETTE BLUNT, KASSANDRA HALSTEAD, LINDSAY BOONE, JERESA MORGAN,
`JAMIE WHITELY, BRAYANNE FORD, ROSE RAINEY, NORMA THOMAS, KIMBERLY
`LANDRY, KIMBERLY STEWART, TONYA ALLEN, ARRIELLE HUGHES, HILLERY
`THOMPSON, CIERA LAMB, CHELSEA MARIE BRYANT, TEXAS BLUNDELL, FLORA
`JORDAN, JESSICA JEFFERSON, SHEENA CHENEAU, CAROLINA ROMERO, JASMINE
`LEFORT, DORIONNE HUNTINGTON, JASMINE SHORT, MARY DORAN, CAROL
`JACKSON, TONIA ROUEGE, TAMIKA HYDE, EBONI SHAW, BRIANNE TRIGGER,
`CHELSEA VAN WERT, TANERA DALE-NAPPER, NICOLE LOWRY, CIERRA DENISE
`GARNER, GINA BAKER, AMANDA WOLTERS, AMANDA GARCIA, CRYSTAL
`BARLOW, CHRISTOPHER BARLOW, NATALIE STEVANUS, KATRENA WARR,
`BRENDA YEAROUT, MYLAH NWANKWO, CLARA ALLEN, ANGELA SCHNEIDER,
`JACQUELYN SEIFERT, TAMMIE WIRE, KEISHA CURRIE, DIANA LEONARD, CONICA
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page8 of 22
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`WINSTON, AMY CHOLEWINSKI, CARLA WALCOTT, VICTORIA HONPY, JAMI
`OLSON, DANIELLE KORTE, BRITTNEY M. GENTRY, JOSHUA GENTRY, KRISTA
`BURKE, SARAH BOETTGER, CARMEN MORALES, SABRINA BOISAUBIN, NORA
`MATA, JENNA TRUE, STEPHANIE BAKER, KATELYN TOWER, CHARLOTTE
`STRIBLING, HEIDI ROSENOW, BRITNEY MURPHY, HOPE GARCIA, ASHTON SILVIS,
`EMILIE SITZMAN, ROCHELL MYLES, ANJANET COLEMAN, SAMANTHA DARBY,
`KATE JENSEN, CIERA COLE, DENISE KEIDERLING, LISA FRAZIER, ERICKA TURNER,
`JASMIN THURMAN, KATIE SCHUBEL, KATHLEEN FRIZZELL, SHAKEEMA MOORE,
`JESSICA WEIN, JAYDE SEAFORD, JENA COOK, HOLLY JONES, KEISHA PIERCE,
`MELISSA LOVE, DESHERA MYERS, GRACEANN ROBINSON, SARAH OTTMAR,
`NICOLE NUNERY, ASHLEY DAVIS, LAURA DACUS, GLORIA FIELDS, APRIL
`JOHNSON, MARIA RODRIGUEZ, KATHLEENA HAYS, LISA SETTLE, TIFFANY FITCH,
`NICOLE MAZZANTI, WHITNEY HOMER, MEGAN ISHAM, DANICA HENDRICKS,
`MELINDA DOBSON, CHARLOTTE BROWN, MARY BURDETTE,
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`Plaintiffs-Appellants,
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`v.
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`BAYER PHARMA AG, BAYER OY, BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.,
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`Defendants-Appellants.∗
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`ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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`SACK, CHIN, and LOHIER, Circuit Judges.
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`Before:
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`The Clerk of the Court is respectfully directed to amend the official caption to
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`conform to the above.
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page9 of 22
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`Appeal from a judgment of the United States District Court for the
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`Southern District of New York (Engelmayer, J.) granting summary judgment in
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`favor of defendants-appellees dismissing plaintiffs-appellants' products liability
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`claims after precluding, pursuant to Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
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`509 U.S. 579 (1993), the opinions of plaintiffs-appellants' expert witnesses as to
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`general causation.
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`AFFIRMED.
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`MAXWELL KENNERLY, Kennerly Loutey LLC, Elkins
`Park, Pennsylvania (Lawrence L. Jones II, Jones
`Ward PLC, Louisville, Kentucky, and Martin D.
`Crump, Davis & Crump, P.C., Gulfport,
`Mississippi, on the brief), for Plaintiffs-Appellants.
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`LISA S. BLATT (F. Lane Heard III, Matthew J. Greer,
`Kimberly Broecker, on the brief), Williams &
`Connolly LLP, Washington, D.C.; Paul W.
`Schmidt, Michael X. Imbroscio, Phyllis A. Jones,
`Covington & Burling LLP, New York, New York,
`and Washington, D.C.; Elmore James Shepherd,
`Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP, Houston, Texas; and
`Shayna S. Cook, Goldman Ismail Tomaselli
`Brennan & Baum LLP, Chicago, Illinois, for
`Defendants-Appellees.
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`9
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page10 of 22
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`PER CURIAM:
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`Plaintiffs-appellants ("plaintiffs") appeal the district court's
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`judgment entered June 21, 2019, in favor of defendant-appellee Bayer
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`Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("Bayer") and dismissing all claims. By opinion and order
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`entered October 24, 2018, the district court granted Bayer's motion pursuant to
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`Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993), to exclude the
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`testimony of all of plaintiffs' experts. In re Mirena IUS Levonorgestrel-Related
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`Prods. Liab. Litig., 341 F. Supp. 3d 213 (S.D.N.Y. 2018). By opinion and order
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`entered June 11, 2019, the district court granted Bayer's motion for summary
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`judgment on the ground that the remaining evidence was insufficient to establish
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`general causation, or in other words, that plaintiffs failed to offer evidence to
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`suggest that Bayer's product is capable of causing the type of injuries from which
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`plaintiffs claim to suffer. In re Mirena IUS Levonorgestrel-Related Prods. Liab. Litig.,
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`387 F. Supp. 3d 323 (S.D.N.Y. 2019).
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`On appeal, plaintiffs argue that the district court improperly
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`excluded the opinions of their experts on general causation, erred in granting
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`summary judgment for Bayer, and denied plaintiffs their right to obtain and
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`produce evidence in discovery. We reject plaintiffs' arguments, and for
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page11 of 22
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`substantially the reasons set forth in the district court's thorough opinions, we
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`affirm its judgment.
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`BACKGROUND
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`The Mirena Intrauterine System ("Mirena") is a plastic T-shaped
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`intrauterine device ("IUD"), manufactured by Bayer, that releases a synthetic
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`steroid hormone called levonorgestrel ("LNG") into the uterus to prevent
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`pregnancy. Plaintiffs are women from across the country who allege that they
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`developed idiopathic intracranial hypertension ("IIH") as a result of using
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`Mirena.1 The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ("JPML") consolidated
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`plaintiffs' cases in the Southern District of New York for pretrial proceedings,
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`where plaintiffs filed their consolidated amended complaint alleging negligence,
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`manufacturing defect, design defect, failure to warn, breach of implied and
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`express warranties, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation,
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`fraud, and state consumer fraud violations.
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`On June 21, 2017, the district court entered a scheduling order giving
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`"priority" to the issue of "whether plaintiffs have admissible evidence sufficient
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`IIH is known by multiple names, including pseudotumor cerebri ("PTC") and
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`benign intracranial hypertension ("BIH").
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`to establish general causation of the harms alleged." S. App'x at 212.
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`Accordingly, the district court scheduled a hearing pursuant to Daubert, "as to all
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`expert evidence bearing on general causation." S. App'x at 214. The district court
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`held its Daubert hearing April 9-11, 2018, at which plaintiffs and Bayer put
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`forward seven and twelve expert witnesses, respectively, on the issue of general
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`causation. Plaintiffs' experts were (1) Dr. Vincenzo Salpietro, (2) Dr. Conrad
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`Johanson, (3) Dr. Philip Darney, (4) Dr. Lemuel Moyé, (5) Dr. James Wheeler, (6)
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`Dr. Frederick Fraunfelder, and (7) Dr. Laura Plunkett.
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`On October 24, 2018, the district court issued its 156-page opinion
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`and order granting Bayer's Daubert motion as to all of plaintiffs' experts and
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`denying as moot plaintiffs' motion to preclude Bayer's experts.
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`Bayer then moved for summary judgment, arguing that without
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`expert witnesses, plaintiffs had insufficient evidence to establish general
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`causation. On June 11, 2019, the district court granted Bayer's summary
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`judgment motion, and on June 21, 2019, entered judgment and closed all of the
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`cases in the MDL. This appeal followed.
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`DISCUSSION
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`I.
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`Standard of Review
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`We review a "district court's decision to admit or exclude expert
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`testimony under a highly deferential abuse of discretion standard." Zuchowicz v.
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`United States, 140 F.3d 381, 386 (2d Cir. 1998) (citing Gen. Elec. Co. v. Joiner, 522
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`U.S. 136, 141 (1997)). "A decision to admit or exclude expert scientific testimony
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`is not an abuse of discretion unless it is manifestly erroneous." Amorgianos v.
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`Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp., 303 F.3d 256, 265 (2d Cir. 2002) (internal quotation
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`marks omitted). "Significantly, the abuse of discretion standard 'applies as much
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`to the trial court's decisions about how to determine reliability as to its ultimate
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`conclusion.'" Id. (quoting Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 152 (1999)).
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`Thus, the trial judge has broad discretion in determining "what method is
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`appropriate for evaluating reliability under the circumstances of each case." Id.
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`We review a grant of summary judgment de novo, "construing the
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`facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and drawing all
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`reasonable inferences in that party's favor." Burns v. Martuscello, 890 F.3d 77, 83
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`(2d Cir. 2018).
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`II. Daubert
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`Under Federal Rule of Evidence 702, lower courts perform a
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`"gatekeeping" function and are charged with "the task of ensuring that an
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`expert's testimony both rests on a reliable foundation and is relevant to the task
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`at hand." Daubert, 509 U.S. at 597. But while "Rule 702 sets forth specific criteria
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`for the district court's consideration, the Daubert inquiry is fluid and will
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`necessarily vary from case to case." Amorgianos, 303 F.3d at 266. Similarly, while
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`the Court in Daubert identified four factors bearing on reliability that district
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`courts may consider -- (1) whether a theory or technique "can be (and has been)
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`tested"; (2) "whether the theory or technique has been subjected to peer review
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`and publication"; (3) a technique's "known or potential rate of error," and "the
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`existence and maintenance of standards controlling the technique's operation";
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`and (4) whether a particular technique or theory has gained "general acceptance"
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`in the relevant scientific community, Daubert, 509 U.S. at 593-94 -- the Court
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`cautioned that "[t]hese factors do not constitute . . . a 'definitive checklist or test.'"
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`Amorgianos, 303 F.3d at 266 (quoting Daubert, 509 U.S. at 593). So long as "an
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`expert's analysis [is] reliable at every step," it is admissible. Id. at 267.
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page15 of 22
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`Plaintiffs argue that the district court abused its discretion by
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`(1) focusing on plaintiffs' experts' conclusions rather than their methodologies,
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`(2) requiring the experts to back their opinions with published studies that
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`definitively supported their conclusions, and (3) taking a "hard look" at the
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`experts' methodology. Appellant Br. at 14-15. Each argument is rejected.
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`We start with plaintiffs' third argument: that the district court erred
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`by taking a "hard look" at each expert's methodology. This argument is central to
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`plaintiffs' appeal, as they argue the district court's analysis of each expert was too
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`searching. But as noted, an expert's methodology must be reliable at every step
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`of the way, and "[i]n deciding whether a step in an expert's analysis is unreliable,
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`the district court should undertake a rigorous examination of the facts on which
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`the expert relies, the method by which the expert draws an opinion from those
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`facts, and how the expert applies the facts and methods to the case at hand."
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`Amorgianos, 303 F.3d at 267 (emphasis added). Accordingly, not only was it
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`appropriate for the district court to take a hard look at plaintiffs' experts' reports,
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`the court was required to do so to ensure reliability.
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`Plaintiffs' contention that the district court impermissibly focused on
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`plaintiffs' experts' conclusions instead of their methodologies is similarly
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page16 of 22
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`unavailing. The district court provided in-depth analysis of whether the experts
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`applied their methodologies reliably. S. App'x at 52 (discussing in detail how
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`Moyé's analysis "is flawed by serious methodological deficiencies"), 70-71
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`(explaining the "number of methodological flaws" with Plunkett's analysis), 84
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`(Wheeler's methodology was "flawed in multiple respects"), 102 (discussing the
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`"hallmarks of unreliability" throughout Fraunfelder's analysis), 119, 121 (noting
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`that Darney's report suffers from a broad overarching lapse of methodology and
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`two speculative leaps rendering it unreliable), 139 ("infirmities precluding a
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`finding of reliability as to three of the four steps" of Johanson's method), 149
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`(Salpietro's opinion "does not meet any of the Daubert criteria for reliability").
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`Plaintiffs may (and do) challenge whether the reliability analysis was correct, but
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`plaintiffs have no basis to argue that the district court did not engage in a
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`detailed analysis of their experts' methodologies.
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`Next, plaintiffs argue that the district court erred by requiring the
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`experts to back their opinions with studies definitively supporting their
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`conclusions. Even assuming the district court did impose such a requirement, it
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`did not err in doing so. We have held that "[w]here an expert otherwise reliably
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`utilizes scientific methods to reach a conclusion, lack of textual support may go
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`to the weight, not the admissibility of the expert's testimony." Amorgianos, 303
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`F.3d at 267 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). In other words, an
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`expert need not back his or her opinion with published studies that support his
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`or her conclusion if he or she has utilized reliable scientific methods to reach that
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`conclusion. But here, because the district court found that plaintiffs' experts did
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`not "otherwise reliably utilize[] scientific methods," and the conclusions were not
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`supported by other studies, the experts' reports were properly excluded. Id.; see
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`Joiner, 522 U.S. at 146. Further, the court was well within its discretion to
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`consider whether plaintiffs' experts' conclusions were generally accepted by the
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`scientific community. The "general acceptance" of an expert's conclusion is one
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`of the four enumerated considerations in Daubert, 509 U.S. at 594, and while a
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`court need not consider the Daubert factors, it does not abuse its discretion in
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`doing so.
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`In sum, the district court appropriately undertook a rigorous review
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`of each of plaintiffs' experts, and based on that review reasonably found that the
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`experts' methods were not sufficiently reliable and that their conclusions were
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`not otherwise supported by the scientific community. Accordingly, the district
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`court did not abuse its discretion in precluding the experts' conclusions.
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`III. Summary Judgment
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`We turn to whether the court correctly granted summary judgment
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`in favor of Bayer. We conclude that it did, for we agree that no reasonable juror
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`could find that it was more likely than not that general causation had been
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`established based on plaintiffs' admissible evidence.
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`State law controls on the question of what evidence is necessary to
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`prove an element of a state law claim, such as general causation. See Amorgianos,
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`303 F.3d at 268. The district court concluded that all fifty states "require some
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`evidence of general causation in products liability cases involving complex
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`products liability (or medical) issues." S. App'x at 175. This question was
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`presented to us in a previous MDL regarding Mirena, and we affirmed the
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`district court's holding to that effect there. See Mirena MDL Plaintiffs v. Bayer
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`HealthCare Pharms. Inc. (In re Mirena IUD Prods. Liability Litig. I), 713 F. App'x 11,
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`15-16 (2d Cir. 2017) (summary order). Plaintiffs attack that conclusion from the
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`previous Mirena IUD MDL case and the district court's holding below, but, as
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`the district court noted and is still true now, plaintiffs have failed to point to any
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`state that does not have a general causation requirement for the type of claims at
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`issue here. Rather, plaintiffs argue that some states allow evidence on specific
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`causation before or in conjunction with the presentment of evidence on general
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`causation, but that is a challenge to the way in which the district court managed
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`the litigation -- which is discussed below -- not the substantive state law that the
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`district court applied. Accordingly, we are not persuaded that the district court
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`erred in holding that there is a general causation requirement across all states.
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`Alternatively, plaintiffs argue that even if they were required to
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`satisfy a threshold general causation showing, their failure to do so was because
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`the district court prevented them from obtaining and presenting such evidence.
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`We also reject this argument.
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`"A district court has wide latitude to determine the scope of
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`discovery, and we ordinarily defer to the discretion of district courts regarding
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`discovery matters. A district court abuses its discretion only when the discovery
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`is so limited as to affect a party's substantial rights." Twinam v. Dow Chem. Co. (In
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`re Agent Orange Prod. Liab. Litig.), 517 F.3d 76, 103 (2d Cir. 2008) (internal
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`quotation marks and alteration omitted). In other words, "[a] party must be
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`afforded a meaningful opportunity to establish the facts necessary to support his
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`claim." Id.
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`19
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`Case 19-2155, Document 173-1, 12/08/2020, 2988597, Page20 of 22
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`Plaintiffs first argue that the district court erred in granting Bayer's
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`summary judgment motion for lack of evidence of general causation because the
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`district court excluded all of their experts' reports instead of just portions of
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`them. Plaintiffs therefore are suggesting that the testimony that they believe
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`should have been carved out as admissible would have been sufficient to
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`establish general causation. But plaintiffs have not explained which portions of
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`their experts' reports should have been carved out as admissible (assuming, as
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`the plaintiffs ask us to on this issue, that the district co