By Jeanne Whalen and Sara Randazzo
Florida, Texas and four other states became the latest to file
lawsuits against Purdue Pharma LP and other opioid painkiller
makers, alleging they fueled an addiction crisis by misrepresenting
the risks of their drugs.
Florida and Texas, the most populous states yet to pursue
litigation, join more than a dozen other states and hundreds of
counties, including Ohio, Alabama, Missouri, New Hampshire and
Washington, to sue opioid painkiller makers. Many states and
counties have also sued painkiller distributors.
Florida said it filed suit in state court against painkiller
makers Purdue Pharma, Endo International PLC, Johnson &
Johnson, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and Allergan PLC,
alleging their marketing played down the painkillers' risks of
addiction. Florida's lawsuit also targets the drug distributors
AmerisourceBergen Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., and McKesson Corp.,
alleging they failed to control dangerous shipments of the drugs to
pharmacies. Florida also sued Mallinckrodt PLC, describing it as a
distributor.
Texas, Nevada, Tennessee, North Carolina and North Dakota on
Tuesday filed suit against Purdue Pharma, maker of the painkiller
OxyContin, with allegations similar to Florida's.
"The people who started this, the people who created this, the
manufacturers and distributors of these drugs who pushed them, will
be held responsible," Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said at a
news conference, flanked by law-enforcement officials who lashed
out at the companies, accusing them of prioritizing profits over
public safety.
Purdue Pharma denied the allegations, adding: "We are
disappointed that after months of good faith negotiations working
toward a meaningful resolution to help these states address the
opioid crisis, this group of attorneys general have unilaterally
decided to pursue a costly and protracted litigation process."
Johnson & Johnson called its marketing of the drugs
"appropriate and responsible." Teva said it is "committed to the
appropriate use of opioid medicines." Allergan said it supports the
"safe, responsible use of prescription medications."
The distributor AmerisourceBergen said it reports and stops
pharmacies' drug orders when they appear suspicious and plays no
role in prescribing or dispensing pain medicines. The other
companies didn't immediately respond to requests for comment; most
have denied similar allegations in the past.
All of the states filing suit Tuesday are part of a bipartisan,
multistate group that has been investigating the marketing of
painkillers and the causes of the addiction crisis.
Late last year, Purdue said it was holding talks with the
multistate group aimed at forging some sort of resolution.
Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt's office said Tuesday it is
still investigating other opioid manufacturers and distributors as
part of that group, which it said is continuing "to engage in
ongoing settlement discussions with Purdue and other
companies."
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said that if the
continuing multistate investigations lead to the conclusion that
other companies violated the law, "I will not hesitate to take them
to court as well." The opioid crisis, he said, "has left death and
destruction in its wake in North Carolina."
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the state, through its
lawsuit, is "holding Purdue Pharma accountable for fueling the
nation's opioid epidemic by deceptively marketing prescription
painkillers including OxyContin when it knew their drugs were
potentially dangerous."
Asked how much money Florida is seeking in damages, Ms. Bondi
said "millions, billions, probably." She added Florida would prefer
to settle the case to avoid prolonged litigation but is prepared to
fight in court. Like many other states, Florida has hired outside
law firms to assist in the litigation; the firms stand to win a
percentage of any settlement or judgment.
More than 750 cities, counties, states and Indian tribes have
launched lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and
distributors.
The attorneys general have largely filed suits in state court.
The majority of the rest of the cases are consolidated in federal
court before U.S. District Judge Dan Polster in Cleveland, who has
pushed hard for a quick resolution.
At a hearing before Judge Polster last week, court-appointed
special master Francis McGovern, who is guiding settlement talks,
said there have been "very fruitful, very open, cooperative
discussions."
The judge has set a trial date in March 2019, but stressed again
last week that litigating the case should been seen as a tool
toward settling and not a replacement. "I still am resolved to be
the catalyst to take some steps this year to turn the trajectory of
this epidemic down rather than up up up," Judge Polster said.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 15, 2018 18:38 ET (22:38 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Teva Pharmaceutical Indu... (NYSE:TEVA)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Teva Pharmaceutical Indu... (NYSE:TEVA)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024