Abbott Laboratories v. Baxter International, Incorporated

United States Court of Appeals
For the Seventh Circuit
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Submitted February 13, 2007∗
Decided March 5, 2007
Before
Hon. FRANK H. EASTERBROOK, Chief Judge
Hon. RICHARD D. CUDAHY, Circuit Judge
Hon. TERENCE T. EVANS, Circuit Judge
No. 06-3799
ABBOTT LABORATORIES,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
BAXTER INTERNATIONAL, INCORPORATED,
Defendant-Appellee.
Appeal from the United
States District Court for the
Northern District of Illinois,
Eastern Division.
No. 01 C 4809
Ronald A. Guzmán, Judge.
Order
An arbitral tribunal’s award required Baxter International to refrain from
competing in the market for sevoflurane until December 2005. This restraint was
ancillary to licensing agreements concerning sevoflurane made by a patented
process, and we held that the award was lawful and had been properly confirmed by
the district court. See Baxter International, Inc. v. Abbott Laboratories, 315 F.3d
829 (7th Cir. 2003).
As the time when the patents were to expire and Baxter again could sell
sevoflurane approached, it began to make marketing plans and to contact potential
customers. It negotiated several deals that would take effect when it could resume
deliveries. Abbott Laboratories does not contend that Baxter delivered any
∗ After examining the briefs and the record, we have concluded that oral argument is
unnecessary. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); Cir. R. 34(f).
NONPRECEDENTIAL DISPOSITION
To be cited only in accordance with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1
To be cited only in accordance with Fed. R. App. P.
32.1Not to be cited per Circuit Rule 53

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No. 06-3799 Page 2
sevoflurane in advance of the date specified in the award but maintains that the
initial steps of planning to make sales, and of negotiating with potential customers,
violate the award. It asked the district court to hold Baxter in contempt of court and
appeals from the order rejecting this request.
The award requires Baxter “not to market, whether directly or indirectly, the
inhalation anesthetic known as Sevoflurane in the Territory defined in the” licenses
until December 11, 2005. Abbott observes that, in both a colloquial and a dictionary
sense, activities that promote the sale of a product “market” that product even
though they do not result in immediate deliveries. The district court granted that
premise but observed that “to market” likewise can mean “to sell”. A litigant should
not be held in contempt, the district court wrote, unless it has violated an
unambiguous command. See Tranzact Technologies, Inc. v. 1Source Worldsite, 406
F.3d 851, 855 (7th Cir. 2005). This command was ambiguous, the district court
concluded--adding that in its view Baxter’s reading (which equates “market” with
“sell”) is the preferable one.
We agree with the district court’s conclusion that the phrase is ambiguous. It
could mean “do not engage in sales promotions until December 11, 2005” or “do not
deliver to customers until December 11, 2005.” One need look no further than the
district court’s opinion to see the problem. It would be more than a little strange to
hold that Baxter had violated an unambiguous command, when the district court
itself agreed with Baxter’s reading--and with a good deal of sense.
The award is designed to keep Baxter out of the sevoflurane business during
the term of the patent and licenses, not to protect Abbott beyond that term. If
Baxter could not begin to approach potential customers until December 11, 2005,
then as a practical matter Abbott would have the market to itself for all of
December 2005 and perhaps much of 2006, for many customers commit to long-term
purchase contracts. Customers shopping for sevoflurane during 2005 for delivery
during 2006 were entitled to know that during 2006 Baxter could supply their
needs.
Whether or not this is an inevitable understanding of the award, it is not
such an idiosyncratic one that the district court abused its discretion (the applicable
standard of review, see Stotler & Co. v. Able, 870 F.2d 1158, 1163 (7th Cir. 1989)) by
refusing to hold Baxter in contempt of court.
AFFIRMED

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