No. 23-1016

William Facteau and Patrick Fabian v. United States

Lower Court: First Circuit
Docketed: 2024-03-15
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (1) Experienced Counsel
Tags: arbitrary-enforcement fda-regulations fifth-amendment first-amendment interstate-commerce medical-device off-label-use truthful-speech
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw SocialSecurity FirstAmendment FifthAmendment DueProcess
Latest Conference: 2024-09-30
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether FDA's intended use' regulations violate the First Amendment and Fifth Amendment

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED Petitioners were convicted of introducing into interstate commerce a “misbranded” and “adulterated” medical device. 21 U.S.C. § 331(a). That provision prohibits the distribution of an FDA-cleared device if the manufacturer has an off-label “intended use” for the device—i.e., a use different from the one cleared by FDA. FDA regulations provide that “intended use” is determined by the manufacturer’s “objective intent,” which may be shown by (i) a manufacturer’s “expressions,” such as “advertising matter” or other “oral or written statements”; and (ii) the circumstances surrounding the distribution of the article,” including “circumstances in which the article is, with the knowledge of [the manufacturer], offered and used for a purpose for which it is neither labeled nor advertised.” 21 C.F.R. §§ 201.128, 801.4 (2016 ed.). Because off-label uses are lawful and ubiquitous, such “circumstances” are ubiquitous as well. The “intended use” regulations thus effectively criminalize both truthful, non-misleading speech about off-label uses and “knowledge” of common and lawful “circumstances.” The questions presented are: 1. Whether FDA’s “intended use” regulations violate the First Amendment by _ requiring manufacturers to refrain from truthful, nonmisleading speech about off-label uses. 2. Whether FDA’s “intended use” regulations violate the Fifth Amendment by encouraging arbitrary enforcement and denying fair notice of what conduct may lead to prosecution.

Docket Entries

2024-10-07
Petition DENIED.
2024-07-02
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/30/2024.
2024-07-01
Reply of William Facteau, et al. submitted.
2024-07-01
2024-06-14
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
2024-05-01
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including June 14, 2024.
2024-04-30
Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 15, 2024 to June 14, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.
2024-04-15
2024-03-28
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including May 15, 2024.
2024-03-26
Motion to extend the time to file a response from April 15, 2024 to May 15, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.
2024-03-13

Attorneys

Howard Root
Mark Edward DuValDuVal and Associates, P.A., Amicus
Mark Edward DuValDuVal and Associates, P.A., Amicus
United States
Elizabeth B. Prelogar — Respondent
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent
William Facteau, et al.
Jeffrey S. BucholtzKing & Spalding LLP, Petitioner
Jeffrey S. BucholtzKing & Spalding LLP, Petitioner