Opioid Manufacturers Hit With a Federal RICO-based Lawsuit

Opioid Manufacturers Hit With a Federal RICO-based Lawsuit

Introduction

Luzerne County has filed a federal RICO-based lawsuit against various opioid manufacturers and wholesale distributors accusing them of racketeering and illegally marketing painkillers that are highly addictive. The suit is filed in US district Court of Pennsylvania against Purdue, Pharma, Endo, Janssen, and Teva among others, claiming to recover the costs incurred in the increased marketing and prescription, with the result of spikes in addiction and overdose, making it a national opioid epidemic. Defendants are also facing allegation of false and deceptive marketing practices and including pushing the opioid painkillers for treatment of chronic pain to boost the prescriptions for the drugs. The wholesale distributors are accused of intentionally overlooking their legal duties under federal and state law to monitor, detect, investigate, refuse, and report suspicious orders of prescription opiates.