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) August 8, 2008
| 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) |
o 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):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS.
In Therasense, Inc. and Abbott Laboratories v. Nova Biomedical Corporation and Becton, Dickinson and Company (Case Number: C 04-02123 WDA, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California)), on August 8, 2008, the jury ruled in favor of Becton, Dickinson and Company (“BD”) and determined that Abbott Laboratories’ patent is not valid. This was the last of four patents asserted by the plaintiffs against BD relating to BD’s discontinued blood glucose monitoring business. The Court had previously ruled in BD’s favor regarding the other three patents asserted by Therasense and Abbott Laboratories in this case. We anticipate that the plaintiffs will appeal the judgment in this case.
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.
| BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY (Registrant) | |
| By: /s/ Dean J. Paranicas | |
| Dean J. Paranicas Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Public Policy |
Date: August 13, 2008