Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Claimant's Reply
__________________
Buenos Aires, September 22, 2015
I. Introduction
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27. Compare this slide with the one shown at the IMS World Review
2013 in Brazil, which was attached by the Claimant in Exhibits C10 and C-11 and by the Respondents in Exhibit R-20:
28. From a mere comparison of the two, it can be noted that, in the
slide included in paragraph 73 of the Respondents CounterMemorial, there was included the caption Prescription
Offering under the Influence Mapping features, which caption
we have highlighted with a red circle in this submission for a
better identification thereof. This mention, Prescription
Offering, does not appear in the slide that was circulated after
the IMS World Review 2013 in Brazil.
29. As the Claimants argued in their Memorial, there was more than
one presentation related to the announcement of IMSs entry into
the Prescription Data business. Indeed, in paragraphs 194/197 of
the Claimants Memorial, the Claimant alleged the following:
194. Indeed, the PowerPoint presentation circulated by
IMS to its potential Prescription Data Business customers
is more general than the one shown at the World Review
2013, since it only referred, in the last slide, to the Rx
Offering as a new product, but without further
information about it.
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Commercialization
Means
Marketing.
IMS
Commercialized Prescription Data During the Life of
the Non-Compete Agreement and Breached This
Agreement.
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by any means and for any objective9 - the emphasis was added
in this submission. Below, the Framework Agreement gives a list
of Prescription Data products.
57.Similarly, the Framework Agreement defines the Prescription Data
as [t]he data on any product prescribed with all of its attributes,
physician data associated with prescriptions or prescribing
activities and any type of data collected from medical
prescriptions, and/or used for the production of Prescription
Data Products10. The emphasis was added by this submission.
58.The following emerges from this: (i) that the parties did not restrict
themselves to establishing a list of products, (ii) but that they put
into writing at least two very broad definitions, (iii) one, which
refers to prescriptions or prescribing activities and all kinds of
data related to medical prescriptions, (iv) which refers to any data
to the extent that they are used for the production of prescription
products, and (v) another, which provides for the collection of
Prescription Data from any source or origin and in any shape.
59. From the foregoing, it emerges that, even if IMS has obtained
those data from a source other than its own prescriptionsas it
acknowledges having done, it breached the Framework
Agreement, since it did not use them to engage in consulting
work, but in the Prescription Data Business.
60. The Respondents, tendentiously, would have Murilo de Paivas
statement likened to an acceptance regarding the lack of
commercialization of Censomed by IMS.
61. The number of actions carried out by IMS that do not mean
instances of commercialization proves surprising. It seems more
an altruistic partnership then a powerful major corporate group
whose holding company is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange.
62. Thus, in IMSs own words, Censomed was not commercialized,
since it was delivered free of charge. Specifically it said that
. . . it has always existed. This is not sold. This item of data is
also noteworthy inasmuch as it was never commercialized . . . it
was not a significant competitive activity for Close Up. Thus,
9 See Annex I of the Framework Agreement, Definitions.
10 See Annex I of the Framework Agreement, Definitions.
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63.
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67. Now, then, the witness Murilo de Paiva explains the crosschecking of files: although it [Censomed] is not sold for a price,
all of the customers who deliver their medical files to IMS receive
another file, but which is qualified with more information, since
the cross-checking of the industrys files is poured into it, which is
precisely the objective pursued by Censomed.
68. Cross-checking files is a product expressly banned by the
Framework Agreement (see Definition of the Prescription Data
Business).
69. Similarly, as stated by the same witness in his rebuttal statement,
Censomed was used by IMS for purposes other than to provide
input to the INTE:
Censomed has three practical uses, which are public
knowledge: (i) Define who are the most qualified
physicians; (ii) rate these physicians within each
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14 Both contracts were attached as Exhibit A-1, together with the expanded claim, submitted
on February 20, 2015.
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develop its product and announcing at the same time its entry into
the business.
128.A different issue is how much time IMS would have to invest to
have a competitive product. The witness Giulianelli explains it
clearly: that length of time depends on the degree of investment
and resources IMS applied to the development of its new product;
furthermore, the possibility of starting to compete could occur
immediately if IMS acquired a portfolio of historical data.
129.This way, the circumstance that the Framework Agreement would
prevent IMS from engaging in activities it describes as
preparatoryand which, in reality, as it turns out from the
rebuttal report prepared by the experts Galli and Maltagliatti 17,
were commercialization actions and in violation of the noncompete clausedoes not involve an extension of the term of the
non-compete obligation.
130.From the above, it is clear that there is no possibility of construing
Close Ups allegations to the effect that it attempts to extend the
non-compete clause to more than five years: at the end of the five
years, IMS was in a position to compete. In fact, it is consistent
with the Claimants statements to the effect that the
commercializationin the technical sense presented by the
experts Galli and Maltagliattiinvolved a breach of the noncompete obligation. This, together with the statements given by
the witness Giulianelli, shows that, in Close Ups position, there
exists a varied list of actions against IMS that would involve
competing in the Prescription Data business, which proves that
IMSs attributing to the interpretation by Close Up a time
extension of the non-compete obligation is absolutely wrong.
131.With this explained, it will be demonstrated below that the
statements given by the Respondents regarding the treatment that
Brazilian law confers upon the non-compete obligation is also
wrong.
VIII. The Arbitral Tribunal Must Resolve the Conflict
Exclusively According to the Law Selected by the Parties.
17 See Attachment CP-6.
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(a)The Parties Chose the Applicable Law. That Is the Law That
the Arbitral Tribunal Must Apply to Resolve the Conflict.
132.IMS aims to create confusion from multiple perspectives.
133.Faced with the reality of the facts, the Respondent attempts to
distort as well the applicable law. As the facts do not bear them
out, it seeks to shape the law to create an artificial exit. IMS
argues that the Framework Agreement and the behavior charged
against IMS regarding the violations in the Prescription Data
Business that occurred in Brazil are subject to the rules of public
policy of that country.18
134.In other words, IMS aims to wipe out the Framework Agreement
and the rules of law agreed to by the parties with a pen stroke.
135.The position of IMS is pointless and groundless: (i) the argument
that the Respondent is attempting to generate is entirely
irrelevant, since Close Ups claim does not involve extending the
non-compete obligation beyond the five years agreed to in the
Framework Agreementas has already been demonstrated in the
previous chapter; and (ii) the present dispute must be resolved in
accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement and,
alternatively, under Argentine law to the extent agreed upon in the
ninth clause of the aforementioned agreement.
136.As already shown above in Chapter VI, IMSs position is entirely
wrong in that it argues that Close Up is seeking the temporary
extension of the non-compete obligation beyond what was
stipulated. That is why the foregoing shows that the invocation of
the Brazilian legislation by IMS is pointless. No discussion
appears in the case about the length of the non-compete
obligation. The only thing at issue is whether IMS breached this
obligation before the five-year term, i.e., prior to March 31, 2014.
137.Notwithstanding the above, in any event, even assuming the
hypothetical casealready deniedthat it could be considered
that Close Ups claim breaches a rule of public policy set forth in
Brazilian legislationthe one that provides for a maximum of
five years for non-compete obligations, the Arbitral Tribunals
mandate is clear.
18 Respondents Counter-Memorial, 142.
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193.Most case law considers that tortious intent exists with a knowing
or deliberate breach, even if there is no intention to cause
damage35. This is a matter of a planned breach, with bad intent;
failure to comply while able to do so36.
194.This implies that the debtorwhether tortious or maliciousis
liable for the immediate and necessary consequences and for the
mediate consequences provided for or foreseeable (such as, for
example, the extent whereby the damages occur).
195.Engaging in commercialization actions, as what happened at the
World Review 2013 in Brazil, the actions in search of information
among customers, negotiation with the latteras reported by
Close Ups sales employees in the memorandum provided as
Exhibit A-12and the signing of contracts with COFEPRIS are
not actions committed out of mere negligence, but with deliberate
intent.
196.To the above there must be added that, in the final part of Article
1724 of the Civil and Commercial Code of Argentina (CCC, in
force since 08/01/2015), the following is provided: [t]ortious
intent exists owing to the intentional production of damage or
with gross disregard for the interests of others.37
197.The aforementioned rules are sufficient to understand that a
breach of the non-compete obligation by IMS has been deliberate,
with utter disregard for the rights of the Claimant and,
accordingly, is malicious. We will give the reasons in detail
below.
35 TRIGO REPRESAS, Flix A. and CAZEAUX, Peter N., Law of Obligations, Buenos Aires,
1987, publisher Librera Editora Platense SRL, Vol. 1, p. 313, and its extensive case law
citations in favor of this position (Attachment CL-29). This makes it possible to revive what is
it directly argued by IMS (Respondents Counter-Memorial, V.B.2).
36 National Chamber of Civil Appeals, Courtroom E, 07/02/1986, Cabrera Enrique A. v. Pinto
Kramer Martin, La Ley 1986-E-206-1; Attachment CL-30.
37 Article 1724: Subjective factors. Fault and tortious intent are subjective assignment
factors. Fault lies in the omission of due diligence depending on the nature of the obligation
and the circumstances of the persons, time and place. It encompasses recklessness, negligence
and incompetence in the art or profession. Tortious intent exists owing to the intentional
production of damage or with gross disregard for the interests of others. Available at:
http://www.infoleg.eob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/235000-239999/235975/norma.htm#23
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limit on the indemnity owed, but rather that the debtor must
repair all the damages caused to the creditor, even when this
exceeds the numerically predetermined amount.47
221.In light of the above, we are able to classify IMSs breach as
deliberate. Consequently, pursuant to the rules stated above,
conventional limits on liability do not apply, either through
limited liability clauses or as a result of the negotiated penalty
clause. In the end, the rules of full reparation apply, and Close Up
may claim all the damages that it proves to have suffered in a
proper causal relationship with the breach, in addition to the
penalty clause.
222.Moreover, one must bear in mind that malicious intent extends
liability to remote consequences; article 521 of the CC states it
thusly: [i]f nonperformance of the obligation were malicious,
the damages and interests will also encompass remote
consequences. Therefore, this allows IMSs allegation to be
refuted regarding the temporal extension of damages caused by its
violation of the non-compete obligation.
X. Close Ups decision to compete in the sales data business.
Causality and rebuttal of the criticism against claiming
damages
223.The Respondents question that a causal relationship exists
between their violation of the non-compete obligation, 198,
227, 242 of the Respondents Counter-Memorial; for his part, the
expert witness, Stremersch, states the same thing in 10, 76, 80,
93.
224.In this line of defense, several erroneous arguments are used
that the Claimant shall refute point by point below.
225.In the first place, the Respondents allege that Close Up has not
been able to demonstrate that it has suffered losses, nor that it has
made any investment that it would not have otherwise lost or
endured ( 198).
47 Cmara Nacional de Apelaciones en lo Comercial, Sala B, 3/11/1996, Ply, S.A. v.
Conelmec, S.R.L. s/ordinario, MJ-JU-E-10140-AR, EDJ10140, Attachment CL-35.
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time of the events, and for its part, prorated for the periods during
which IMS fulfilled the non-compete obligation55.
259.With respect to decreasing the penalty, the Respondent limits itself
to mentioning the cases set out by the aforementioned article 656 56
for it to be admissible, without even arguing much less proving
that said situations exist in this case.
260.Said article states that the penalty may be lowered when its
amount is out of proportion to the seriousness of the offense that it
is punishing, given the amount of the payments and other
circumstances in the case, and whenever it amounts to taking
abusive advantage of the debtors situation. None of that has
occurred.
261.In the first place, the seriousness of the offense can be seen in the
estimate of damages caused, which totals US$ 19,024,852, much
more than the US$ 5,000,000 negotiated in the penalty clause,
which is why alleging disproportion is indefensible.
262.In the second place, the penalty clause specifically used the
amount of payments, as stated in Clause 6.3 of the Framework
Agreement (The SELLER shall reimburse the price charged in
accordance with clause three). Again, the supposed disproportion
does not exist.
263.In the third place, there are no special circumstances that merit a
decrease in the negotiated penalty. On the contrary, the
Respondent has maliciously not fulfilled its obligations and now
seeks, through arguments lacking any grounds, to excuse itself
from fully complying with the negotiated penalty.
264.Finally, and in light of the above, it cannot be construed as either
taking advantage or an abuse; IMS is the one that has maliciously
breached the agreement.
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274.
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Claimant.
278.
63 "Finally, the claimed items are clearly of contractual nature, and thus outside the jurisdiction of the
Arbitral Tribunal. As was stated in our presentation of July 3, 2015, these arbitration proceedings are
based on the Framework Agreement, which is only circumscribed to the Prescription Data Business, with
not a single obligation related to the Sales Data Business, a business entirely different from the
Prescription Data Business and unrelated to the Framework Agreement. 279. Close-Up claims
concerning losses in the Sales Data Business are not only completely unfounded and false, but also
unrelated to the Framework Agreement, and fall, outside the arbitration clause. 280. Therefore, any claim
related to the Sales Data Business is foreign to the arbitration clause and to the competence and
jurisdiction of the Tribunal."
64 "Further, this claim should be dismissed because, as discussed in subparagraph e) above (paras. 278280), the tribunal lacks jurisdiction to hear claims concerning the Sales Data. 287. In fact, Additional
reasons to question the Tribunal's jurisdiction in claims for alleged "interference." Ifcontrary to its
submissions to the Tribunal and the Tribunal's decision of August 8 201 5Close-Up tried to point to the
"interference in negotiations" and not to a breach to the Framework Agreement, as the real cause of its
alleged losses, then the Tribunal lacks jurisdiction to decide the claim, since it is not derived from or
related to the Framework Agreement, which deals exclusively with Prescription data. Close-Up has not
even attempted (i) to express what rules or provisions were violated by the alleged interference of IMS
(i.e., extra-contractual interference or unfair competition rules in the relevant jurisdictions), or (ii) to
determine that the Tribunal would have competent jurisdiction to interpret and apply such rules and order
award damages if it considers that the rules have been breached. Consequently, this claim must be
dismissed."
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70 BORN, Gary
B., International Commercial Arbitration, Volurne 1, The Hague, 2014, Kluwer Law
International, p. 302, Attachment CL-44.
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73 BLACKABY, Nigel and PARTASIDES, Constantine, in REDFERN, Martin and HUNTER, Alan, International Arbitration,
Fifth Edition, Oxford University Press, No. 2.20(b), Attachment CL-43.
74 Blackaby et al, op. cit., No. 259, Attachment CL-43.
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Arbitral awards issued in the framework of the provisions of this Chapter may be reviewed before the competent courts on the
matter and territory as grounds for annulment be invoked, in whole or in part, pursuant to the provisions of this Code. One
cannot waive the legal challenge of the final award in the arbitration agreement that would be contrary to the law"
http://www.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegintemet/anexos/235000-239999/235975/texact.htm-.
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312. IMS does not mention either that Murilo de Paiva left IMS when he had
not been hired by Close-Up yet.
313. What IMS refers to as "significant trove of sensitive and confidential
information is information that in the trial itself in Brazil was proven to be
available on the Web, but for one of the documents containing financial
information, which Murilo de Paiva sent to his email account on grounds
recognized by the Brazilian law, aimed for the defense of his labor rights.
Advocacy that became effective in a labor trial that Murilo de Paiva filed
against IMS Health Brazil in claiming labor debts, including the Bonus,
the assessment of which is based on the financial information that he sent
to his email account.
314. In short all the proceedings currently underway and on which IMS has
not been able to prove whatever allowed it to obtain injunctive relief, that
we deem of harmless effects.
297. In the same vein, it is mentioned (Counter-Memorial 82)
that "Close-Up tried to hire other team members of IMS
Brazil ...," topic that was also subject of the proceedings in Brazil
as referred to above.
315. This situation is not only normal in our industry, as many people from
Close-Up or Inestra work in IMS today, but also Harvey Ashman, IMS
General Counsel and VP recognizes and affirms no limitations exist in this
regard, namely:
"We do not agree that those obligations include
contractual restrictions to both IMS and Close-Up
with regard to recruiting employees."
316. This, in the same paragraph of the Counter-Memorial, IMS refers to a
former IMS Ecuador employee alleging that this currently "is part of
the consulting team of Close-Up Ecuador." As demonstrated in the
LinkedIn page of Hernn Cuevas he is Close-Up Ecuador's Business
Manager (General Manager), a post far from that of a consulting team,
which does not yet exist in Ecuador.
XIV. Prayer for Relief
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317. To the Honorable Arbitral Tribunal, the Claimant kindly requests to:
i)
Enter this filing in the record as the Claimant's Reply.
ii) Render a final award, ordering IMS to:
a) Deliver to Prescription Data the lists and the information
described in Point A) of the preceding chapter.
b) Refund to Prescription Data the sum of US$5,000,000 plus interest,
pursuant to Article 6 of the Master Contract;
c) Compensate Prescription Data for the damages caused in the
amount of US$19,024,852, plus interest;
d) Assume the full costs of this arbitral procedure (see Article 37 of
the Regulations).
Respectfully submitted,
City of Buenos Aires, September 22, 2015.
[signature]
Leandro Javier Caputo
[signature]
Santiago Nievas Blanco
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Numbering
C-20
C-21
C-22
Numbering
CP-6
CP-7
3) List of Testimonies Provided by the Claimant Together with the Claimants Memorial
Rebuttal Statement by:
Numbering
CT-6
CT-7
Jorge Guzmn
CT-8
Liliana Gary
CT-9
4) List of Legal Citations Provided by the Claimant Together with the Claimants Reply
Documents
Numbering
CL-25
CL-26
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CL-27
CL-33
CL-34
CL-36
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CL-28
CL-29
CL-30
CL-31
CL-32
CL-35
CL-37
CL-38
CL-39
CL-40
CL-41
CL-42
CL-43
CL-44
CL-45
CL-46
CL-47
CL-48
CL-49
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