United States v. Arora

Doctor Prince Kumar Arora (defendant) worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a research facility belonging to the United States government (plaintiff). Arora hired postdoctoral student Yoshitatsu Sei and became his mentor. Sei remained free to collaborate with other departments. Sei began a project with other NIH doctors to cultivate a cell line known as Alpha 1-4 (Alpha). Using complex methods, they developed a stable cell line, were able to maintain it in deep-freeze storage, and prepared to publish their research and donate the line for use by scientists around the world. Before publishing, Sei needed to perform certain experiments on the cell line. By this time, the relationship between Sei and Arora had soured. When some of the stored Alpha cells started dying unexpectedly, Sei suspected tampering. NIH police found evidence that Arora was entering the facilities where Alpha was stored after hours and introducing a harmful chemical into some of the Alpha flasks. The United States sued Arora for tortious trespass and conversion, alleging that Arora intentionally tampered with and destroyed the Alpha cells, significantly delaying completion of the research project. The government presented evidence that the cell deaths resulted in a loss of flasks and materials valued at $176.68. Additionally, 13 hours of labor by a lab assistant were needed to recreate the lost cells, costing $273.52.