The Orland Fire Protection District joined 13 Illinois governments including several from the Southwest Suburban in filing a class action lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County against Purdue Pharma, one of the leading manufacturers of opioid-based prescription drugs, 26 other pharmaceutical companies and three doctors.
The lawsuit alleges that Purdue Pharma intentionally downplayed the negative harm that their products would have on users, and engaged in "a years' long campaign to misrepresent the risks of, and shift public opinion on, the use of prescription opioids to treat chronic non-cancer pain."
The class action lawsuit further asserts, "Defendant manufacturers purposefully and aggressively marketed opioid products for unapproved uses, buried unfavourable research, and employed a network of phony front groups, opinion leaders, and sales representatives to expand the market for opioids and obtain massive profits."
| Since 1999, there have been more than 351,000 reported opioid-related deaths nationwide—more than 6 times the number of U.S. soldiers who died in the Vietnam War |
Resulting in financial hardships and tragedy
Lead attorney James J. Roche, who represents the Orland Fire Protection District, said that the lawsuit, filed on July 19, 2018, also targets doctors who allegedly over-prescribed opioids to their patients.
"The opioid epidemic has caused extreme financial hardship and personal tragedy throughout the fire district. Every time an ambulance is deployed, paramedics and fire fighters must respond," said Roche, of James J. Roche Associates in Chicago. "The fire district has received in excess of 80 calls per year due to this epidemic."
Also represented in the class action lawsuit are the City of Harvey, the Village of Broadview, the Village of Chicago Ridge, the Village of Dolton, the Village of Hoffman Estates, the Village of Maywood, the Village of Merrionette Park, the Village of North Riverside, the Village of Orland Park, the City of Peoria, the Village of Posen, the Village of River Grove, and the Village of Stone Park.
60% deaths caused due to opioid-based drugs
Prescription opioids are devastating communities across the country and in the State of Illinois. Since 1999, there have been more than 351,000 reported opioid-related deaths nationwide—more than 6 times the number of U.S. soldiers who died in the Vietnam War.
Today, an American dies from an opioid overdose every 19 minutes and more than 60% of all drug overdose deaths in the United States involve an opioid, according to the class action lawsuit. In addition to the tragic loss of life and the heart-breaking impact on children and loved ones, some estimates state that the opioid crisis is costing governmental entities and private companies as much as $500 billion per year.
| The fire district has sued many of the manufacturers of these opioids, along with certain doctors, alleging they had knowledge of the damage caused by these opioids |
Pharma companies sued by the fire district
The Orland Fire Protection District has had educational programs through schools and public seminars now in excess of 5 years. The fire district has sued many of the manufacturers of these opioids, along with certain doctors, alleging they had knowledge of the damage caused by these opioids and put corporate profits in front of public safety.
Also named as defendants along with Purdue Pharma are: Purdue Pharma L.P., Purdue Pharma, Inc., Purdue Frederick Company, Inc., Rhodes Pharmaceuticals, Cephalon, Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Endo International PLC, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Inc., Ortho-Mcneil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Janssen Pharmaeutica, Inc., Insys Therapeutics, Inc., Normaco, Inc., Endo Health Solutions, Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Allergan PLC, Actavis PLC, Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Watson Laboratories, Inc., Actavis Pharma, Inc., Actavis LLC, Mallinckrodt Plc, Mallinckrodt LLC, Amerisourcebergen Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc., McKesson Corporation, and doctors Paul Madison, William McMahon, and Joseph Giacchino.
Illegal prescription of opioids
The class action lawsuit alleges that "Defendants Paul Madison, William McMahon, and Joseph Giacchino were working around the clock to prescribe opioids to anyone who came through the door of their clinic in Riverside, Illinois—whether or not they had a valid need for them, were from out-of-state, or presented any number of patently suspicious traits.
“The pill mill they operated distributed thousands upon thousands of opioid prescriptions to countless residents of Plaintiffs' communities, completing a chain of indifferent profiteering that has marked the acts—and omissions—of all Defendants' conduct in making, distributing, and selling prescription opioids."
