-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, ByWLvHUREMTGlWa0uBx3DTNdYGJvi8mtJPNmX0I0Z8HVILqpsK7nYhULNGtfN2Tx kjWppmAeZuejM/Bwop0X9g== 0000950117-02-001657.txt : 20020719 0000950117-02-001657.hdr.sgml : 20020719 20020719131337 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950117-02-001657 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20020719 ITEM INFORMATION: Other events FILED AS OF DATE: 20020719 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: BECTON DICKINSON & CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000010795 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841] IRS NUMBER: 220760120 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NJ FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-04802 FILM NUMBER: 02706405 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE BECTON DR CITY: FRANKLIN LAKES STATE: NJ ZIP: 07417-1880 BUSINESS PHONE: 2018476800 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE BECTON DR CITY: FRANKLIN LAKE STATE: NJ ZIP: 07417 8-K 1 a33031.txt BECTON DICKINSON & CO. 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) July 19, 2002 ------------- BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) New Jersey 001-4802 22-0760120 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State or other juris- (Commission (IRS Employer Iden- diction of incorporation) File Number) tification Number) 1 Becton Drive, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey 07417-1880 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (201) 847-6800 -------------- N/A - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former name or former addresses if changed since last report.) ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS In the product liability action entitled Grant v. Becton Dickinson & Co., et al. (Case No. 98CVB07-05616, in the Court of Common Pleas, Franklin County, Ohio), the Court filed a decision on July 17, 2002 under Ohio procedural law granting plaintiff's motion for class certification "subject to any necessary alteration, modification, or amendment pursuant to Ohio Civ. R. 23." Under the Court's decision, the certified class relates to persons located in the State of Ohio who sustained accidental needlesticks with certain products but did not contract any disease. The Company vigorously denies that the claims in the case have any merit and will continue to oppose class action certification by promptly filing an appeal of the Court's decision with the Ohio Court of Appeals for the 10th Appellate Judicial District. Class certification of similar claims has been denied in two other states (Texas and Illinois). Three other states (California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) have dismissed similar claims for having no merit. 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. BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY (Registrant) By: /s/ Kathleen M. Gibson ---------------------------- Kathleen M. Gibson Assistant Secretary Date: July 19, 2002 - 2 - -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----