Opioid Distributor Liability

Soaring death rates and the rising costs of battling the opioid crisis in the U.S. force state and local governments to expend millions – perhaps billions – of dollars each year in public services. Drug manufacturers carry much of the blame, distributors that flood the marketplace with opioids must also be held accountable.

According to the Washington Post, our country’s prescription drug epidemic has resulted in almost 180,000 overdose deaths between 2000 and 2015. That’s three times the number of Americans who died during the Vietnam War. The opioid crisis has led to thousands more fatalities caused by overdoses of fentanyl and heroin and fentanyl, which have become cheaper and easier to get than prescription drugs.

States’ attorneys general – Democrats and Republicans alike – are suing drug manufacturers who reap tremendous profits from the $13 billion opioid industry while their highly addictive painkillers put communities in peril. But many local counties and municipalities are looking to outside law firms like Sommers Schwartz to file similar lawsuits against prescription drug distributors.

The Opioid Danger Is a Serious Public Health Crisis

Opioid painkillers with brand names like Fentanyl, OxyContin, Vicodin, Duragesic, Methadone, and Dilaudid are frequently overprescribed, exposing people to the very real risks of addiction, poisoning, overdose, and death.

There are a number of players in the pharmaceutical industry that have contributed to our country’s opioid epidemic. Manufacturers such as Purdue Pharma (maker of OxyContin), Teva Pharmaceuticals, and Johnson & Johnson produce and market prescription drugs downplayed their addictive qualities, much the same as tobacco companies who tried to hide the dangers of cigarettes from consumers and the public.

Insurance companies may also be culpable for widely approving benefits for opioids over safer, more expensive drugs necessary to treat chronic pain.

And doctors who knowingly or negligently place patients at risk for addiction and death may be subjected to medical malpractice actions.

How Are Drug Distributors Responsible for the Opioid Crisis?

AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson – three of the largest pharmaceutical distributors – must also be scrutinized for their involvement. Lawsuits across the U.S. accuse the drug distributors of failing to monitor, identify, and report suspicious activity, essentially helping to flood the marketplace with opioids rather than taking action to “abate the nuisance.”

As a result of distributors turning a blind eye, harmful opioid painkillers flowed into the black market, compounding the danger and placing the expense to battle the crisis squarely on the shoulders of state and local government. The lawsuits seek damages to assist in paying the costs to combat what has become a national emergency.

What Is Sommers Schwartz’s Role in the Litigation against Opioid Distributors?

Taking on Big Pharma is more than any one law firm can handle. The mass tort litigators at Sommers Schwartz are part of a nationwide consortium of lawyers that have joined together to pursue compensation from opioid distributors. Along with Baron & Budd, Levin Papantonio, and other law firms, our attorneys are collaborating on behalf of local governments to get them the financial resources they need to fight the crisis and provide necessary services to the public.

The attorneys in Sommers Schwartz’s Commercial Litigation Group are currently discussing litigation options and strategies with state agencies, counties, and cities. If you are a government official on the front lines of this battle, please contact us today!

A Trusted Authority

Our attorneys have been featured on local and national media outlets, including:

sommers-media-compressor

High Praise for Matthew Turner

I was referred to Matt by a lawyer who had asked around for a lawyer who was both really good and kind. The latter being essential for my sanity after the trauma I endured. Matt is 100% both. He was fabulous- not only just knew his stuff but really truly…

Praise for Our Employment Lawyers

Tad Roumayah and Jenna Sheena were an absolute pleasure to work with in my case. They answered any questions that I had in a timely manner. I would highly recommend them when a matter has to do with job issues.

An Opposing Attorney Who Became a Client

I would like to give some recognition to Andy Dragovic. I first became acquainted with Mr. Dragovic in a professional manner when we represented opposing clients in a lawsuit. I recall being very impressed with how hard Mr. Dragovic fought for his client, and I happily recommended him as an…

Kind Words From a Client

Thank you for being so on top of things!

I couldn’t have been more impressed!

Jason Thompson represented me in a gross negligence case, and I couldn’t have been more impressed with his professionalism and energy throughout the entire process.

Your advice is very valuable to me.

Just wanted to formally thank you for taking the time to discuss the area of class action. I wish you the best with everything. It has been a pleasure getting to know you and everyone at Sommers Schwartz.

You went above and beyond expectations.

Our business is very complex with the different manufacturers we deal with and the rebate programs associated with them, and we feel the time, effort and your timeliness in understanding the different aspects of our case helped us with a reasonable resolution.

You did a great job.

Thank for all you did in my case, Kevin. You did a great job.

Our Clients Say It Best

googlereviews
70 5-star reviews on Google