Even the ‘Bad Blood’ trial has a Coronavirus Twist. The trial of Theranos former CEO Elizabeth Holmes surfaced last week in the midst of the Public Health Emergency in the US District Court in San Jose, where Holmes is scheduled to go on trial in August. Williams & Connolly lead attorney Lance A. Wade filed a motion with Federal Judge Edward Davila to permit Holmes’ attorneys to travel, serve subpoenas and meet with potential witnesses, which would include health care professionals and testing laboratories, all in preparation for the trial. Judge Davila basically swatted it aside, stating “I have to tell you sir, I read [the document] and I was a little concerned,” the judge said. “You’re basically filing a motion in essence asking the court to violate orders in the midst of a national crisis.” Wade stated that it would be nearly impossible to prepare Holmes’ defense without violating shelter-in-place orders and public health warnings. While both the judge and the lead counsel agreed that much could be done remotely to prepare for trial, Wade maintained that it would be ‘almost impossible’ to complete it. 

The trial date may change at the next hearing on 15 April, since the judge has requested both the prosecution and defense to propose alternative trial schedules. Jury selection is scheduled to start in late July. 

A prosecutorial deteriorata? In February, the nine counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy were reduced by the judge, who dismissed the two conspiracy charges related to defrauding patients and directing doctors to misrepresent Theranos to patients. He also severed Holmes’ trial from former president and live-in Sunny Balwani’s. One wonders that, between the reduction of charges and the delay which has made The Biggest Healthcare Fraud of the 21st Century old news, whether Holmes and Balwani will serve any significant Club Fed time at all. Law360. CNBC, Observer

Another Corona Twist is that a SoftBank/Fortress Investment shell company, Labrador Diagnostics LLC, which happens to own several Theranos patents, sued a small company, BioFire, developing COVID-19 tests. Labrador now states that the patent infringement doesn’t entail the COVID tests but others over the past six years. Our Readers will recall that SoftBank/Fortress was a ‘last ditch’ investor in Theranos in December 2017, collateralized by the patent portfolio. The Verge