UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 4, 2012

 

 

BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

New Jersey

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

001-4802		22-0760120
(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
1 Becton Drive, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey		07417-1880
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

(201) 847-6800

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K Filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230425)

 

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

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Item 8.01

Other Events.

In a decision dated September 28, 2012, the District Court for the Southern District of California issued a decision on pre-trial summary judgment motions in Gen-Probe Incorporated v. Becton Dickinson and Company. The court ruled that some of Gen-Probe’s asserted patent claims are infringed, but other claims are not infringed, thus reducing from six to four the number of patents to be contested at the trial (which is scheduled to begin on December 4, 2012) and significant defense issues relating to patent invalidity, inequitable conduct and standing, remain to be adjudicated. This decision does not change the Company’s views and it continues to believe that it has meritorious defenses to this litigation.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: October 4, 2012