City of Chicago Files Lawsuit Against Painkiller Manufacturers
According to the Chicago Tribune, the city of Chicago has filed a lawsuit against five drug manufacturers, accusing the companies of concealing the health risks associated with a class of potent painkillers.
The lawsuit accuses the companies of doing this to boost profits. The case was filed earlier this month in Cook County Circuit Court, and contends that the manufacturers violated city ordinances and other laws against false advertising, conspiracy, insurance fraud and consumer fraud by “knowingly and aggressively” marketing opioids such as OxyContin as “rarely addictive”, and touting benefits that “lacked scientific support.”
The companies involved in the lawsuit include Actavis, Endo Health Solutions Inc., the Johnson & Johnson unit Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Purdue Pharma LP and Teva Pharmaceutical’s Cephalon Inc.
The city claims that the companies used marketing tactics to encourage doctors to “prescribe and patients, including veterans and the elderly, to purchase more of these painkillers, leading to a rise in the ‘misuse and abuse’ of the drugs.”
Chicago claims that an increase in drug abuse is now plaguing the city, contributing to a rise in health care costs. In the lawsuit, the city is asking for $9.5 million for 400,000 prescriptions it paid to fill since 2008, compensation for damages allegedly caused by the drugs, additional civil penalties related to alleged fraud and all attorneys’ fees and court costs.
How Do I File a Drug Injury Lawsuit?
As we reported recently, many cities, counties and states are filing lawsuits against drug manufacturers over their alleged deceptive marketing practices when it comes to painkillers.
Recently, Santa Clara and Orange Counties in California filed similar lawsuits against the makers of OxyContin and Percocet, making the same claims that Chicago has made.
These painkillers are highly addictive and as research has shown, abuse can lead to an increase in medical costs associated with care, as users suffer injuries.
It should be noted that our defective drug attorneys represent victims of dangerous drugs. We file personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, which hold drug manufactures liable for their negligent actions. Contact us today.
Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-drugmakers-lawsuit-20140602,0,485373.story