Opinion
Joelle E. Polesky, Esquire and Robert K. Beste, III, Esquire of Smith, Katzenstein & Furlow LLP, Wilmington, DE, Counsel for Plaintiffs. Of Counsel: Steven F. Benz, Esquire, Ronald S. Lord, Esquire, Michael J. Fischer, Esquire, and Michael S. Zuckman, Esquire of Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel P.L.L.C., Washington, D.C.
R. Stephen Berry, Esquire, J. Daniel Leftwich, Esquire, and Gregory Baruch, Esquire of Berry & Leftwich, Washington, D.C. Charles Bird, Esquire, Van Jacobsen, Esquire, and Jeremy R. Stevens, Esquire of Bird, Jacobsen & Stevens, Rochester, Minnesota.
Richard L. Horwitz, Esquire and David E. Moore, Esquire of Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, Wilmington, DE, Counsel for Defendants. Of Counsel: Peter E. Moll, Esquire, John J. Rosenthal, Esquire and Timothy Finley, Esquire of Howrey LLP, Washington, D.C.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
SUE L. ROBINSON, Chief Judge.
I. INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff American Seed Company (" American Seed" ) filed a complaint against defendants Monsanto Company and several of its controlled subsidiaries on July 26, 2005 alleging that defendants have unlawfully maintained monopolies in four product markets, corresponding to four types of genetically modified (" GM" ) corn seed. (D.I. 1) A complaint in intervention on behalf of Minnesota citizens was filed on November 15, 2005 naming Kent Duxbury as plaintiff. (D.I. 45) On the same date, a complaint in intervention was filed on behalf of Iowa citizens naming Darrell Souhrada as plaintiff. (D.I. 46) The parties filed a stipulation to amend the latter complaint on January 17, 2005, and a first amended complaint adding Dave Johnson as a plaintiff representing the Iowa classes. (D.I. 61 & ex. A)
Additional named defendants were American Seeds Inc., Corn States Hybrid Service Inc., Asgrow Seed Company, Inc., Holden Foundation Seeds, Inc., Dekalb Seeds, Calgene, L.L.C., Channel Bio Company, NC+ Hybrids, and Seminis Inc. (D.I. 1)
On September 20, 2006 American Seed filed a first amended complaint adding Jerry Ellefson as a plaintiff. (D.I. 153) On the same date, an amended complaint in intervention was filed adding Benjamin Rein as a plaintiff representing the Minnesota classes. (D.I. 154)
Discovery proceeded on issues related to class certification, which discovery period closed on March 15, 2006. (D.I. 56 at 3) Merits discovery commenced on July 1, 2006, and the document discovery period closed on September 1, 2006. ( Id. ) Currently before the court is plaintiffs' motion for class certification. (D.I. 96) The court heard oral argument on this issue on October 3, 2006. (D.I. 168)
II. BACKGROUND
Plaintiffs allege that defendants, through the use of financial incentives and bundled rebate programs, have driven competing biotechnology corn seed out of the market, enabling defendants to charge monopoly prices to farmers and retailers. (D.I. 100 at 3-4) Plaintiffs seek to certify three categories of classes pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(3): a group of national direct purchasers of GM corn seed (" National Direct Purchaser Class" ), whose claims will be brought under federal antitrust law; and groups of purchasers of GM corn seed in Iowa and in Minnesota (the " Iowa Class" and " Minnesota Class" ), whose claims will be brought under the laws of each respective state. (D.I. 96; D.I. 100 at 3-4) Within each class, plaintiffs have identified several subclasses corresponding to certain GM corn seed purchased, to wit, GM corn seed that: (1) is tolerant of glyphosate herbicide; (2) is resistant to European Corn Borer pest; (3) is resistant to rootworm pest; and (4) contains two or more of the glyphosate-tolerant, European Corn Borer (" ECB" )-resistant, or rootworm-resistant traits. (D.I. 96) In support of their motion, plaintiffs rely on the expert opinion of Dr. William Lesser, who has provided two benchmarks that he believes would be reasonable in estimating damages to class members in this case, and for which data is likely to be available. (D.I. 100 at 13; D.I. 103 at 7-13) Another expert retained by plaintiffs, Dr. Morton Kamien, has provided common damages formulas to be applied to Dr. Lesser's benchmarks, and has opined that common impact of defendants' alleged monopoly can be demonstrated with respect to each of plaintiffs' proffered classes. (D.I. 100 at 14-15; D.I. 104 at 8-15)
" Roundup Ready TM" -branded seeds contain this trait, whose name reflects the seeds' resilience to Roundup TM glyphosate herbicide.
" Yieldgard TM" -branded seeds contain this trait.
For example, one of plaintiffs' proffered National Direct Purchaser Classes is described as:
Dr. Lesser's benchmarks are: (1) Monsanto's sales in Spain of its YieldGard TM ECB-resistant seed from 2003 to 2005; and (2) Monsanto's sales of its Pioneer/YieldGard TM ECB-resistant seed in the United States before its alleged monopolization of the GM corn seed market. (D.I. 100 at 13; D.I. 103 at 7-11)
III. LEGAL STANDARD
A district court has discretion to grant or deny class certification. See Eisenberg v. Gagnon, 766 F.2d 770, 785 (3d Cir.1985). The court does not inquire into the merits of a lawsuit while determining whether it may be maintained as a class action. See Eisen v. Carlisle and Jacquelin, 417 U.S. 156, 177, 94 S.Ct. 2140, 40 L.Ed.2d 732 (1974). However, the court must conduct a limited preliminary inquiry, looking beyond the pleadings, to determine whether common evidence could suffice to make out a prima facie case for the class. See General Tel. Co. of Southwest v. Falcon, 457 U.S. 147, 160, 102 S.Ct. 2364, 72 L.Ed.2d 740 (1982) (" the class determination generally involves considerations that are enmeshed in the factual and legal issues comprising the plaintiff's cause of action" ) (citation omitted); Newton v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., 259 F.3d 154, 167 (3d Cir.2001) (" [C]ourts may delve beyond the pleadings to determine whether the requirements for class certification are satisfied." ).
IV. DISCUSSION
For a class to be certified, it is plaintiffs' burden to " establish that all four requisites of Rule 23(a) and at least one part of Rule 23(b) are met." Baby Neal v. Casey, 43 F.3d 48, 55 (3d Cir.1994). Rule 23(a) requires: (1) numerosity (the class is so large that " joinder of all members is impracticable" ); (2) commonality (" questions of law or fact common to the class" ); (3) typicality (the named parties' claims or defenses are typical of the class); and (4) adequacy of representation (class representatives " will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class" ). Amchem Products, Inc. v. Windsor, 521 U.S. 591, 613, 117 S.Ct. 2231, 138 L.Ed.2d 689 (1997) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)). Under Rule 23(b)(3), the category at issue in this case, two requirements must be met for a class to be certified: (1) common questions must predominate over any questions affecting only individual members; and (2) class resolution must be superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy. Id. at 615, 117 S.Ct. 2231. The parties' arguments in this case focus on whether " common questions" exist so as to satisfy the overlapping requirements of Rules 23(a)(2) and 23(b)(3). Before addressing this issue, the court pauses to address additional issues regarding plaintiffs' proffered classes.
A. Standing and Typicality
Defendants argue that plaintiff American Seed lacks standing to represent any direct purchaser classes because it did not purchase GM corn seed directly from defendants during the class period, rather, American Seed purchased GM seed from independent third-party seed companies. (D.I. 118 at 14) Defendants also argue that, assuming American Seed has standing, it fails to meet the typicality requirement of Rule 23(a)(3). ( Id. at 39) To satisfy the typicality requirement, plaintiffs must show that the class representatives are " part of the class and ‘ possess the same injury’ as the class members." East Texas Motor Freight System, Inc. v. Rodriguez, 431 U.S. 395, 403, 97 S.Ct. 1891, 52 L.Ed.2d 453 (1977) (citations omitted). Defendants argue that this standard can not be met because American Seed is neither a retailer nor a grower and was not overcharged as a result of the alleged conspiracy; American Seed's purported injury was lost sales, as growers could not afford the higher costs that were passed through to them in American Seed's pricing. ( Id. ) Plaintiff responds that a direct purchaser that passes on an unlawful increase in price is entitled to the same damages as other direct purchasers under Hanover Shoe, Inc. v. United Shoe Machinery Corp. (D.I. 133 at 18 (citing 392 U.S. 481, 489, 88 S.Ct. 2224, 20 L.Ed.2d 1231 (1968)))
The corollary to this rule, iterated in Illinois Brick Co. v. Illinois, is that downstream (or indirect) purchasers do not have standing to sue for costs " passed-on" to them. See McCarthy v. Recordex Service, Inc., 80 F.3d 842, 849 (3d Cir.1996) (" Permitting the use of pass-on theories ... essentially would transform treble-damages actions into massive efforts to apportion the recovery among all potential plaintiffs that would have absorbed part of the overcharge-from direct purchasers to middlemen to ultimate consumers." ) (citing Illinois Brick Co. v. Illinois, 431 U.S. 720, 737, 52 L.Ed.2d 707 (1977)) (collecting Third Circuit precedent). Plaintiffs have characterized the Iowa and Minnesota classes as encompassing " indirect purchasers" of transgenic seed. (D.I. 133 at 6-7) However, plaintiffs have cited authority which demonstrates that state law in Iowa and Minnesota allows for indirect purchasers to recover damages. Gordon v. Microsoft Corp., No. Civ. A. 00-5994, 2001 WL 366432, *7 & *13 (D.Minn. Mar. 30, 2001) (certifying indirect purchaser class under " Illinois Brick repealer statute" Minn.Stat. § 325D.57); Comes v. Microsoft Corp., 646 N.W.2d 440, 445 & 449 (Iowa 2002) (holding that Iowa Competition Law codified at Iowa Code §§ 553.4 and 553.5 creates a cause of action for indirect purchasers, and stating that the policy considerations of Illinois Brick " have little, if any, applicability to antitrust suits in state court." ). Plaintiffs' argument regarding the standing of American Seed does not run afoul of the request for the certification of the indirect purchaser classes in this case.
The parties presented argument to the court regarding whether sales invoices produced during class discovery demonstrate that American Seed purchased GM corn seed from defendants directly or from an independent seed company. At this stage of the proceedings, the court declines to render a judgment regarding the merits of the disputed facts. See Wachtel ex rel. Jesse v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of America, 453 F.3d 179, 183 n. 5 (3d Cir.2006). It is apparent, however, that plaintiffs face a problem either with standing or typicality in the present case. If American Seed is not a direct purchaser, as defendants allege, American Seed is not a proper representative for the National Direct Purchaser Class and, in fact, is not a proper class member under plaintiffs' definitions. If American Seed is a direct purchaser, it may not have suffered the same injury (inflated pricing) as retailers and growers if it passed on overcharges to customers.
Even should the court accept plaintiffs' first amended complaint adding Jerry Ellefson as a representative of the National Direct Purchaser Classes, the standing issue may persist if American Seed is not a proper class member. (D.I. 154)
Plaintiffs and Dr. Kamien allege that seed dealers pass through all overcharges to the Iowa and Minnesota class members, which constitutes common proof of injury with respect to those classes. (D.I. 133 at 6-7; D.I. 104 at 14)
Insofar as the court finds that plaintiffs' classes are not certifiable under Rule 23(a)(2) and Rule 23(b)(3) even if each proffered class had standing and fulfilled the typicality requirements, the court need not resolve these issues.
B. Commonality
1. The Bogosian Short-Cut
As proof of common injury, plaintiffs' expert, Dr. Kamien, opines that it is economically reasonable to conclude that, if defendants' conduct is proven to have restrained competition, this had the effect of raising or maintaining prices for all purchasers in the GM corn seed market above what they would have been. (D.I. 104 at 8) Plaintiffs rely on the Third Circuit's decision in LePage's Inc. v. 3M for the proposition that Dr. Kamien may appropriately assume that monopolistic conduct results in common injury. (D.I. 133 at 2 (citing 324 F.3d 141, 164 (3d Cir.2003)) (en banc) (" Once a monopolist achieves its goal by excluding potential competitors, it can then increase the price of its product to the point at which it will maximize its profit. This price is invariably higher than the price determined in a competitive market." )) In essence, plaintiffs rely on a theory described by the Third Circuit as the " Bogosian short-cut:"
[If] a nationwide conspiracy is proven, the result of which was to increase prices to a class of plaintiffs beyond the prices which would obtain in a competitive regime, an individual plaintiff could prove fact of damage simply by providing that the free market prices would be lower than the prices paid and that he made some purchases at the higher price. If the price structure in the industry is such that nationwide the conspiratorially affected prices at the wholesale level fluctuated within a range which, though different in different regions, was higher in all regions than the range which would have existed in all regions under competitive conditions, it would be clear that all members of the class suffered some damage, notwithstanding that there would be variations among all dealers as to the extent of their damage.
In re Linerboard Antitrust Litigation, 305 F.3d 145, 151 (3d Cir.2002) (citing Bogosian v. Gulf Oil Corp., 561 F.2d 434, 455 (3d Cir.1977)). The Bogosian presumption of impact does not support class certification where there is no additional evidence of class-wide impact. In re Linerboard, 305 F.3d at 153 (" there is more to this case than exclusive reliance on the presumed impact theory" ) (holding that the district court did not err in certifying the proffered class).
2. Courts' Application of the Bogosian Short-Cut
Plaintiffs claim that the present case parallels Bradburn Parent/Teacher Stores, Inc. v. 3M, No. Civ. A. 02-7676, 2004 WL 1842987, *15 (E.D.Pa. Aug.18, 2004), in which the district court granted class certification. (D.I. 133 at 12-13) Not coincidentally, Dr. Kamien was plaintiffs' expert in Bradburn. Dr. Kamien relied upon the Bogosian presumption of impact in that case, and proposed two benchmarking theories of damages.2004 WL 1842987 at *12-13. Dr. Kamien also asserted in Bradburn, as he does in this case, that gross margins for the products at issue would allow him to determine defendant's response to competition in the marketplace, irrespective of variations in the price charged to consumers. Id. at *16. The Bradburn court agreed that plaintiffs had presented, through Dr. Kamien, a theory of damages which would prove or disprove the existence of impact for all members of the class by the use of common benchmarking formulas and generalized proof. Id. at *14. The court stated in this regard:
One benchmark in Bradburn was the market for the product at issue, transparent tape, before defendant's alleged anticompetitive activity commenced. 2004 WL 1842987 at *13. The other benchmark was the market for " wrap and mail" tape, another tape market, in 1993 when defendant reduced its prices due to increased competition. Id. The Bradburn court stated that " [t]he two benchmarks proposed by Dr. Kamien are standard methods for proving damages in an antitrust case." Id. at *15 (citing Nichols v. SmithKline Beecham Corp., No. Civ. A. 00-6222, 2003 WL 302352, at *8, 2003 U.S. DIST. Lexis 2049, at *24 (E.D.Pa. Jan. 29, 2003)) (internal quotations omitted).
Dr. Kamien argued in Bradburn that gross margin data was critical to determining whether defendant raised its prices because of increased competition or, alternatively, due to other factors such as changes in the cost of production. 2004 WL 1842987 at *16.
Dr. Kamien has sufficiently augmented his conclusion that classwide impact can be established through the use of common proof with supporting documentation and economic theory. The court further finds that this supporting documentation demonstrates that Dr. Kamien has conducted at least a preliminary study of the market for transparent tape and the feasability of applying his economic theory to this market.Id. Bradburn
For example, in support of his assertion that the market for " wrap and mail" tape represents a valid competitive benchmark for this case ... Dr. Kamien utilized Defendant's own internal strategic business plandeposition testimony[.] ... Dr. Kamien's analysis of the market for transparent tape prior to 3M's anti-competitive product similarly cites to both of 3M employees and LePage's trial testimony to support Dr. Kamien's assertion that the discounts offered by 3M during this period can be used as a proxy for determining the prices that 3M would have charged for its tape in the absence of its anti-competitive product.Id. Bradburn Id.
In In re Linerboard, the Third Circuit affirmed the certification of appellee's class where the district court relied both on the Bogosian short-cut and the opinions of plaintiff's experts, which " were supported by charts, studies, and articles from leading trade publications." 305 F.3d at 153. The Court deemed the conclusion of plaintiff's expert, Dr. Beyer, " significant because it was supported by charts and studies," which included " an extensive empirical investigation into the behavior of linerboard and corrugated box prices over time which proved a basis for his opinion of common impact." Id. In addition, Dr. Beyer " had studied the structure of the industry, including Appellants' market power, geographical overlap, the fungible nature of the products, the inelastic demand and lack of a substitute," in concluding that higher corrugated cardboard (product) prices were strongly influenced by linerboard prices, thus demonstrating class-wide impact. Id. Similarly, the Third Circuit found the conclusion of plaintiff's expert Dr. Cantor " extremely significant" as her " conclusion [of common impact] was supported by relevant data," namely industry and pricing data. Id. at 154. The Court specifically explained that there was " more to th[e] case than exclusive reliance on the presumed impact theory:"
[W]e conclude that the district court did not err in determining that plaintiffs showed that they could establish injury on a class-wide basis. Plaintiffs produced affidavits of expert witnesses, Dr. Beyer and Dr. Cantor, who effectively utilized supporting data, including charts and exhibits, to authenticate their professional opinions that all class members would incur such damages. We decide that this was not a case where plaintiffs relied solely on presumed impact and damages.
Id. at 153, 155. As the Bradburn court has stated, " Linerboard ... teaches that at least some analysis of the relevant market and other facts unique to the particular case is required before an expert can opine that all class members have suffered antitrust injury." 2004 WL 1842987 at *15 (emphasis added).
3. Whether Common Injury May Be Presumed in This Case
i. Proof of injury
Plaintiffs primarily rely on the Bogosian presumption as proof of common injury. In addition, plaintiffs assert that Dr. Kamien's damages formulas can be used both to measure damages and as further proof of common injury. (D.I. 100 at 15) The law is clear, however, that proof of injury (the existence of defendants' alleged monopoly margin) is distinguishable from the calculation of damages (computation of the alleged inflation of defendants' gross margins). See Newton, 259 F.3d at 188. Plaintiffs have not provided any factual backdrop regarding, for example, defendants' business practices or the GM corn seed market, which would make clear to the court how Dr. Kamien's formulas can also constitute proof of the fact of damage. ii. Market complexity
As in Bradburn, the court has the benefit of a prior decision addressing the relevant market (for genetically modified seed). In Sample v. Monsanto Company, the district court held that the evidence demonstrated that a presumption of common impact would be improper for several reasons. 218 F.R.D. 644 (E.D.Mo.2003). First, according to the Sample court, " genetically modified seeds are not homogenous products. The market for seeds is highly individualized depending on geographic location, growing conditions, consumer preference and other factors." Id. at 650-51. Second, the plaintiffs in Sample alleged that only the " premium" portion of the seeds containing Monsanto's patented genes were the result of the price-fixing scheme, and the germplasm component of the seed could not be segregated from the rest of the seed for pricing purposes. Id. at 651. The Sample court also stated that the actual prices paid could not be determined by common proof, as GM seeds were not offered at a uniform price, and defendants' nationwide price lists did not reflect the actual prices paid by farmers. Id. The court stated:
Plaintiffs cannot determine the " but-for" marketplace necessary to establish antitrust impact without a reliable methodology to determine the premiums paid by farmers. In fact, the evidence presented at the class certification hearing showed that supply-and-demand conditions for seed sales vary to such a great extent that the " but-for" prices could be determined only through individualized inquiries for each potential class member. These factors include growing seasons and conditions, regional varieties and farmer preferences. Common proof simply cannot be used to establish a " but-for" marketplace in this situation, particularly where the evidence showed that the actual prices paid by many farmers was well below Monsanto's technology fee.
* * * * * *
The variety of [genetically modified] seeds purchased, geographic location, growing conditions, and the terms of purchase are all relevant to a determination of impact and cannot be shown with common proof on a class-wide basis.
Id. at 651. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of class certification based upon its holdings that the market for genetically modified seeds is highly individualized, prices for genetically modified seeds varied considerably, and plaintiffs' expert did not show that the fact of injury could be proven for the class as a whole with common evidence. Blades v. Monsanto Co., 400 F.3d 562, 572 (8th Cir.2005).
The classes in Sample were persons who purchased GM seeds " at any time from January 1, 1996 to the present." 218 F.R.D. at 646-47. Plaintiffs' motion to certify the classes in Sample was brought on January 17, 2003.
The Sample and Blades decisions provide factual insight into the complexity of the market for GM corn seed which has not been countered by plaintiffs. Unlike the record made in Bradburn, Dr. Kamien has not supported his theory of presumed impact with any supporting documentation in this case. In addition to the Bogosian presumption, Dr. Kamien's only other substantiation of his common impact theory is the common damages formulas to be applied to Dr. Lesser's benchmarks. Plaintiffs have not provided any actual data for the court's review as to the " factual setting of the case," against which to evaluate these formulas. Dr. Kamien cites absolutely no factual authority in his declaration in support of his theory of common injury and damages. (D.I. 104 at 8-15); See Weisfeld v. Sun Chemical Corp., 84 Fed.Appx. 257, 264 (3d Cir.2004) (non-precedential) (noting there was no indication that plaintiff's expert conducted the required " preliminary analysis" or had support for his opinion when the expert's declaration contained " no actual analysis in the declaration itself and no discussion of the evidence upon which [the expert's] analysis was based," and " no studies or findings attached to the declaration" ) (denying class certification). There is no indication that Dr. Kamien conducted " at least a preliminary study of the market" as in Bradburn, 2004 WL 1842987 at *15. Dr. Kamien's submissions are not " supported by charts, studies, and articles from leading trade publications" as in In re Linerboard. 305 F.3d at 153.
Dr. Kamien cites the deposition testimony of Anthony Leisure, Monsanto's designee on pricing, for the proposition that the requisite cost and margins data should be available, as well as data relating to licenses given to Iowa and Minnesota growers. (D.I. 104 at 12, 15) It is not clear to the court why plaintiffs did not seek or, alternatively, could not obtain such data during class discovery. Nevertheless, data availability is a separate inquiry.
Dr. Kamien did not independently analyze the documents produced during class discovery. (D.I. 166 at 38:24-39:2) Dr. Kamien did not study the pricing and/or pricing variability for any of the varieties of GM corn seeds. ( Id. at 91:24-92:12) Dr. Kamien also did not interview any farmers, class members, or employees of seed distributors, seed companies, or retailers in connection with his report or declaration. ( Id. at 139:10-140:7) It is not genuinely disputed that Dr. Kamien has taken the allegations in the complaint at face value, and formed his conclusion of class-wide impact without conducting any independent analysis, and without knowing whether the data will ultimately support his theory. ( Id. at 23:20-24:2, 39:15-23, 86:20-23 & 89:2-24)
If in fact defendants' gross margins for the seeds at issue would allow Dr. Kamien to determine defendants' response to competition in the marketplace, irrespective of movements in the price charged to the end user, Dr. Kamien's omission may not be fatal. Under the same logic, the same may be true with respect to Dr. Kamien's failure to consult retailers, seed companies, or growers. (D.I. 166 at 139:10-140:7) Notwithstanding, as discussed in Blades, the genetically modified seed market is sufficiently more complicated than Dr. Kamien's analysis allows.
Plaintiffs apparently have chosen to rely exclusively on their legal theory that a presumption of impact is sufficient in this case. A legal presumption not grounded in fact, however, is not sufficient. The relevant market was thoroughly studied and previously deemed complex by the courts in Sample and Blades. Plaintiffs' lack of underlying factual support for Dr. Kamien's proposed common damages formulas-even assuming they are indistinguishable from proof of common injury-is especially troublesome considering that precedent.
iii. Apportionment of the value of traits within the seed as a whole
In Sample, the court stated that " plaintiffs allege[d] that only the ‘ premium’ portion of the seed product [was] the result of the price-fixing scheme, but the germplasm component of the seed cannot be segregated from the rest of the seed." 218 F.R.D. at 651. Defendants in this case similarly assert that an alleged lack of competition in traits does not automatically translate into artificially high seed prices. (D.I. 118 at 12, 19-20) Plaintiffs did not counter defendants' argument in their reply brief. (D.I. 133)
Plaintiffs' expert in Sample, Dr. Lietzinger, conceded that " insertion of a GM trait might affect other agronomic characteristics of the seed which might otherwise affect the price." Id. at 651. Though Dr. Lietzinger's opinion is not evidence in this case, plaintiffs have not provided any evidence to the court which would counter the persuasiveness of this observation that it is not possible to isolate the trait component of genetically modified seed in terms of price. Nor have plaintiffs provided any evidence regarding the relationship between traits (or germplasm) and seed cost or gross margins.
Dr. Kamien testified that he has not analyzed price differences between varieties of GM corn seed containing different types of germplasm. (D.I. 166 at 194:2-195:1)
iv. Different varieties of direct purchasers exist in this case
It appears that plaintiffs' class definitions are broad enough in this case to encompass not only purchasers of hybrid corn seed, but any " corn seed" with the specified genetic traits, including foundation seed. (D.I. 96) Defendants point to record evidence which indicates that the foundation seed market is separate from the hybrid seed market, as foundation seed is priced differently and travels through different distribution channels. (D.I. 118 at 28-29 (citing D.I. 119 at B-440 and D.I. 120 at ¶ ¶ 13-19)) Plaintiffs do not address defendants' arguments in their reply brief. (D.I. 133)
In addition to the plain language of plaintiffs' definitions, plaintiffs' statement that, " although Monsanto disputes that purchasers of its foundation seed-i.e., seed used to produce hybrid seed varieties-should be included in the classes that are certified by th[e] Court, it has not disputed that full transaction data are available for foundation seed," indicates that plaintiffs seek inclusion of foundation seed purchasers. (D.I. 133 at 6)
At the very least, the record indicates that foundation seed is a different product than hybrid seed, even if the respective markets overlap. Plaintiffs have not explained how common proof can be used to establish antitrust injury to direct purchasers of both foundation seed and hybrid seed as encompassed by their class definitions. Further, the claims and/or defenses of either group of purchasers are not necessarily typical of a class including purchasers of both foundation seed and hybrid seed. Additionally, plaintiffs' National Direct Purchaser Classes encompass several types of direct purchasers, such as retailers, distributers, seed companies, and growers. Plaintiffs have not explained how differences between these types of purchasers (for example, retailers versus growers) are insubstantial with respect to the commonality and typicality requirements of Rule 23.
This case does not represent the first instance in which a distinction between foundation seed and hybrid seed has been recognized. In a separate litigation currently pending before the court, plaintiffs have withdrawn counts relating to Monsanto's alleged monopolization of the market for GM foundation seed. Syngenta Seeds Inc. v. Monsanto Co., No. Civ. A. 04-908 (order granting leave to file third amended complaint docketed at Monsanto Co. v. Syngenta Seeds Inc., No. Civ. A. 04-305, D.I. 522 (Nov. 8, 2006)). Claims relating to hybrid seed remain in the litigation. Id.
In the event that certain seed companies purchased both types of seed during the class period, it is even less clear how common proof could apply to those customers.
v. Indirect purchasers (Iowa and Minnesota classes)
Plaintiffs and Dr. Kamien allege that common injury to indirect purchasers (Iowa and Minnesota class members) can be demonstrated using common proof once the overcharges to dealers are shown, because seed dealers pass through the overcharges to these class members. (D.I. 133 at 6-7; D.I. 104 at 14) Even assuming overcharges were in fact passed through in toto in all cases, negating any need for individualized inquiry, the premise of plaintiffs' theory with respect to the Iowa and Minnesota classes rests upon the presumption of impact on the direct purchasers. Plaintiffs' arguments regarding the Iowa and Minnesota classes thus falter for the same reasons discussed in the context of the National Direct Purchaser Classes.
V. CONCLUSION
Plaintiffs at bar have not provided the court with a hook on which to soundly hang a decision that common questions predominate in this case. Dr. Kamien has not sufficiently grounded his theory of injury in the factual setting of the case to justify class certification. See In re Agricultural Chemicals Antitrust Litigation, No. Civ. A. 94-40216, 1995 WL 787538, *4 (N.D.Fla. Oct.23, 1995) (denying class certification where expert " did no empirical study of whether impact could be proven on a class-wide basis. Nor did he do anything to inform himself about the agricultural chemical industry." ); compare In re Linerboard, 305 F.3d at 153 (" there is more to this case than exclusive reliance on the presumed impact theory" ); Bradburn, 2004 WL 1842987 at *15; In re Mercedes-Benz Antitrust Litig., 213 F.R.D. 180, 189-90 (D.N.J.2003) (plaintiff's expert tracked both prices and dealer gross profits for a sample of seven automobile dealers and determined that both figures remained within a small range, demonstrating the viability of expert's benchmarks on a class-wide scale) (granting class certification).
Plaintiffs had a full and fair opportunity to pursue fact discovery related to class certification. Plaintiffs instead elected to rely solely on Dr. Kamien's presumed impact theory. Based on the analysis above, plaintiffs' motion for class certification (D.I. 96) is denied. An appropriate order shall issue. ORDER
During the discovery conferences held with the court, plaintiffs never suggested that they had tried to conduct market-based discovery and were thwarted in their efforts to do so by defendants.
At Wilmington this 13th day of November, 2006 consistent with the memorandum order issued this same date;
IT IS ORDERED that plaintiffs' motion for class certification (D.I. 96) is denied.
A class of persons directly purchasing corn seed from Monsanto Company (including its controlled subsidiaries) which is tolerant of glyphosate herbicide between July 26, 2001 and the present, excluding citizens of the States of Iowa and Minnesota, persons affiliated with Monsanto, and governmental entities.(D.I. 96 at 2) In comparison, one of plaintiffs' proffered Iowa classes is described as:
A class of persons who are citizens of Iowa and who have purchased, from Monsanto Company (including its named controlled seed companies) or its independent distributors, corn seed which is tolerant of glyphosate herbicide between July 29, 2001 and the present, excluding persons affiliated with Monsanto and governmental agencies.( Id. at 3)