New Haven Sues Opioid Manufacturers

NEW HAVEN, CT — The City of New Haven has sued several prescription drug manufacturers and wholesale distributors and is alleging that they are part of a campaign to mislead the public about the dangers of prescription opioids.

New Haven had 70 fatal overdoses in 2016.

“The pharmaceutical industry is behind one of the greatest and most tragic epidemics facing cities like New Haven. Our firm’s roots are in Connecticut, and I could not be more honored to represent New Haven as it takes on the industry on behalf of its community and the families torn apart by the opioid epidemic,” said David Scott, managing partner of Scott+Scott, a law firm that is headquartered in Connecticut that is representing New Haven.

The lawsuit claims that misleading articles were published in medical journals. It also claims opioid manufacturers sponsored medical education courses in order to persuade doctors that opioids posted no serious threat of addiction.

Connecticut had two opioid deaths per 100,000 people in 2012. By 2015 the number spiked five-and-a-half times. If current trends continue Connecticut will see more than 1,000 opioid deaths in 2017.
The lawsuit seeks damages to help provide social and human services and the enhanced cost of police, fire and other first responders who have to respond to overdoses.

“This plague that has been visited on this City and on countless other towns and cities, and their citizens must be forcefully defended so that lives are saved and families are protected against the heartbreak caused by opioid addiction,” said John Rose, Jr., Corporation Counsel City of New Haven.

Among the companies sued are: Purdue Pharma, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Endo Pharmaceuticals, and Insys Therapeutics. It also names a number of wholesale distributors, including McKesson Corporation, AmerisourceBergen Corporation, and Cardinal Health.

Purdue Pharmaceuticals said in a statement that the company was dedicated to being part of the solution, according to the New Haven Register.

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