Sacklers Testify Before Congress
Two members of the Sackler family testified in front of Congress this month. David and Kathe Sackler both held executive positions and were active members on Purdue Pharma’s board during the time when OxyContin as aggressively marketed, alleged to have contributed directly to the opioid crisis. While both apologized to the victims, neither acknowledged any […]
Purdue Pleads Guilty to Felonies, Plea Deal Receives Criticism
Purdue Pharma pleads guilty to criminal charges for illegal marketing of the its highly addictive painkiller, OxyContin. Corporations often pay penalties and fines for wrongdoing, yet criminal charges are rare. These charges include felony charges of defrauding federal health agencies and violating anti-kickback laws. The company also paid civil penalties for violating the False Claims […]
Pharma Execs Admits to Deceptive Marketing of Opioids
In a rare admission to PBS Frontline & the Finical Times, a pharmaceutical executive acknowledged that he knowingly orchestrated an illegal scheme to boost sales of a powerful opiate painkiller believing there would be no consequences for him personally. Alec Burlakoff, Insys’ former head of sales received a 26-month sentence for charges related his role in the pharmaceutical company which […]
State and Local Lawmakers Goals Conflict in Opioid Litigation
Plaintiffs’ in the multi-district litigation, which consisting of more than 2,500 cities and counties, suing opioid manufacturers and distributors for their role in the opioid crisis find they have conflicting goals with state lawmakers in the ongoing opioid litigation. State attorneys general are adamant on taking drug manufacturers and distributors to trial in hopes of winning a […]
Will Fines Change Corporate Culture That Caused Opioid Crisis?
An Oklahoma judge order Johnson & Johnson (J&J) subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals to pay a $572 million fine to the state for fueling the opioid crisis. This was the first case of its kind to go to trial and could influence similar claims by more than 40 states against the pharmaceutical industry. “As a matter of […]
Opioid Drugmakers May Be Liable Under Consumer Protection Laws
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has been given approval by a state judge to move forward with with action against drugmakers and distributors for illegal marketing and sales of opioid painkillers resulting in a nationwide epidemic. The suit, a first of its kind, brings claims under Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. The UTPCPL bans […]
Oklahoma Sues J&J Over Opioid Crisis
Purdue Pharma is named the main defendant in multiple city, state and local lawsuits against the pharmaceutical companies that played a part in the current opioid crisis. The suits claim the drug maker’s aggressive marketing of its opioid painkiller OxyContin began the crisis more than two decades ago. News media has covered the crisis extensively, including John Oliver […]
Record $240M Opioid Settlement Against Purdue Pharma
Purdue Pharma, makers of the opioid painkiller OxyContin, have settled with the state of Oklahoma for a record $240 million. This is Purdue’s third and largest state settlement yet. The drug manufacturer still faces thousands of other pending local, city and state suits, including a 1,600 case consolidated federal suit against Purdue and other drug manufacturers, […]
Sheller Joins Phila. in Suit Against Opioid Manufacturers
Sheller PC is one of five private law firms assisting the city of Philadelphia’s Law Department in its suit against pharmaceutical companies attempting to hold them accountable for the current opioid crisis. Five pharmaceutical companies are named in the suit: Allergan, Janssen (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson and manufacturer of Risperdal), Endo, Cephalon, and […]
