Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Legal Proceedings, Commitments and Contingencies

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Legal Proceedings, Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Legal Proceedings, Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]  
Legal Proceedings, Commitments and Contingencies
 
10.
Legal Proceedings, Commitments and Contingencies

On April 8, 2011, four complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.  The cases are captioned:  Muniz v. Genentech, et al., 5:11-cv-11489-JCO-RSW; Tifenthal v. Genentech, et al., 2:11-cv-11488-DPH-LJM; Blair v. Genentech, et al., 2:11-cv-11463-SFC-MJH; and Marsh v. Genentech, et al., 2:11-cv-11462-RHC-MKM.  The complaints allege claims against Genentech and the Company ("Defendants") for alleged strict liability failure to warn, negligence, breach of warranty, and fraud by concealment based on injuries alleged to have occurred as a result of the plaintiffs' treatment with RAPTIVA®.  The complaints seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.  All four cases were transferred to the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.  On October 26, 2011, the Court granted the Motions to Dismiss filed by Defendants in all four actions.  On September 6, 2012, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment in favor of Defendants and, on October 12, 2012, denied a petition for en banc rehearing. The Company's agreement with Genentech provides for indemnification of the Company and payment of legal fees by Genentech which the Company believes is applicable to these matters. The Company believes the claims against it to be without merit and intends to defend against them vigorously.

On January 11, 2011, a complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in a case captioned Sylvia, et al. v. Genentech, Inc., et al., No. 1:11-cv-10054-MLW. On June 13, 2011, a complaint was filed in the Supreme Court for the State of New York, Onondaga County.  Defendants removed the case to the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York on November 3, 2011.  The complaint asserts claims against Defendants for alleged strict liability defective design and manufacture, strict liability failure to warn, negligence, breach of warranty, and loss of consortium based on injuries alleged to have occurred as a result of the plaintiff's treatment with RAPTIVA®.  The complaint seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.  No trial date has been set.  The Company's agreement with Genentech provides for indemnification of the Company and payment of legal fees by Genentech which the Company believes is applicable to these matters. The Company believes the claims against it to be without merit and intends to defend against them vigorously.