Harris County sues drugmakers, doctors over opioid epidemic

https://www.click2houston.com/news/harris-county-to-sue-drug-makers-doctors-over-opioid-epidemic

Ryan said that the those named in the lawsuit put profits above the public good when advertising and prescribing the powerful painkillers. He said lies, half-truths and deception were used to foster the use of the drugs.

The doctors named in the lawsuit by Dallas defense attorneys have already had criminal charges filed against them, Ryan said.

DOCUMENT: View a copy of the lawsuit

Ryan said the lawsuit is seeking to prevent the group named in the lawsuit from selling opioids. He said it also seeks monetary damages and fines to be assessed.

Other defendants could be added as the county’s investigation continue, Ryan said.

Things to know about Harris County opioid lawsuit

• 21 drug makers & distributors are named in the lawsuit by Law Office of Glenn C. McGovern.
• Two of the national distributors named in the lawsuit have offices in the Houston area. The McKesson Corporation and Cardinal Health.
• Harris County says it’s been forced to use all of its limited resources to address & deal with the opioid epidemic, across the board, from the criminal justice system side to the medical side. 
• In Harris County, in 2015, 318 deaths were directly attributed to opioid overdoses. 
• Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan or lawyers for wrongful death cases is asking all of the agencies within Harris County to look at the costs they’ve incurred as a result of the opioid epidemic. 
• Additional defendants could be added to the lawsuit as the county’s investigation continues. 
• The Harris County Attorney’s office is working closely with law enforcement and the District Attorney’s office who is prosecuting the results of criminal activity related to the opioid epidemic.  Help From David C. Hardaway criminal justice attorneys help will help in criminal cases.
• Pharmaceutical companies make upwards of $10 billion a year on opioids, according to the county attorney. 

  It is estimated that the drug cartels generate 100 billion/yr in illegal drugs sales. So is this attorney going after the “smaller fish” – ones that provide FDA approved legal opiates thru legal channels –  in the opiate crisis… because they have better paper trails because of their DEA licenses and assets that the attorney can attach/seize more readily… unlike the cartels that are based outside of the USA ? Isn’t this the same methodology that bullies use… pick on the person that they can “readily beat up” with little chance of consequences ?

Filed under: General Problems