"NY Attorney General sues opioid distributors, makers, including Purdue Pharma, Sackler family", 28 Mar 2019

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced what she called the nation's most extensive lawsuit against the manufacturers of the opioid crisis, including the Sackler family and its company, Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin.

In its lawsuit, the AG's Office accuses six national prescription opioid manufacturers, the Sackler family, and four national prescription drug distributors of using deceptive marketing and unlawful diversion of drugs to profit off the pain of opioid addiction...

The complaint amended New York’s lawsuit filed last year that accused Purdue Pharma of fraud and deceptive marketing in pushing addictive painkillers that ignited an epidemic that killed thousands across the country...

"Purdue Pharma and the individual former directors of the company vigorously deny the allegations in the New York State Attorney General’s amended complaint, and will continue to defend themselves against these misleading allegations,"...

James said her office is seeking "meaningful remedy" for the families that are challenged by the opioid crisis, including financial penalties and payments from the drug companies as a punishment and deterrent...

The lawsuit also accused opioid distributors, including Cardinal Health and Rochester Drug Cooperative Inc., of buying painkillers in bulk from the manufacturers and flooding communities with dangerous drugs.

The alleged fraud involved distributors improperly selling hundreds of millions of pain pills to pharmacies and other licensed dispensers.

The drugs were allowed to keep flowing despite repeated internal warning signs and complaints at some of the companies...