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Last updated on Wednesday, December 13, 2017
(BLOOMINGTON) - In a joint effort, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners and Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton have retained the Indianapolis law firm Cohen & Malad, LLP to file a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors for their part in the opioid crisis that is ravaging the Monroe County.
The effects of opioids on the County and City are devastating and quantifiable. Pharmacy data in the County reveals as many as 106 opioid prescriptions per 100 residents in the last few years.
IU Health Bloomington Hospital reports that opioid overdoses increased by 433 percent from 2012 -2014. The lawsuit will seek damages in the form of funds to address the significant financial burdens that the opioid crisis has placed on the City and County.
This lawsuit supports both Mayor Hamilton's and Monroe County Government's efforts to address a major public health crisis.
"The residents of Bloomington and Monroe County will be dealing with the effects of opioid addiction for the foreseeable future. We feel a strong sense of responsibility to do what we can to mitigate the negative impact on our residents, whenever and however possible. This lawsuit is one of many avenues we are pursuing," commented Mayor Hamilton.
According to Commissioner Amanda Barge, "There is no greater public health crisis in our country than the opioid epidemic, and here in Monroe County the costs are exponentially spiritual, physical, emotional and financial. The Monroe County Commissioners are proud to stand with the City of Bloomington to take opioid distributors and manufacturers to task on the immeasurable harm their practices have caused our residents."
Manufacturer defendants will include Purdue Pharma, Cephalon, Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Noramco, Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals, Mallinckrodt PLC, Allergan PLC, and Watson Pharmaceuticals. The lawsuit will allege that these manufacturers deceptively marketed their opioid products with regard to their safety and the risks of use.
Distributor defendants will include AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc., and McKesson Corporation. The lawsuit will allege that the distributors failed in their duty to report and stop suspicious orders of opioids flooding the city and county.
"Taxpayers shouldn't be left to shoulder the burden of solving a problem fueled by the opioid manufacturers and distributors. Bloomington and Monroe County are taking an important step forward to hold these drug manufacturers and distributors accountable for their actions," said Lynn Toops of Cohen & Malad, LLP.
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