SPRINGFIELD – The city of Springfield has filed a lawsuit in federal court against several drug companies and distributors who are accused of playing a role in the opioid crisis plaguing the city and the country.
The city is seeking reimbursement from various pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors for the costs associated with the epidemic. The suit names more than two dozen defendants, including Allergan, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp., Cardinal Health, Purdue Pharma, Express Scripts and Caremark.
In a May 30 complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Southern Division, the city alleges that the opioid crisis “is immediately traceable to the highly deceptive and unfair marketing campaigns employed by” the defendants. It further alleges that the defendants used “misleading marketing materials, rather than scientific facts, to foster a culture of opioid use in unsuspecting patients.” The complaint states that the manufacturers sought to increase profits by encouraging physicians to increase doses “over time to keep up with patients’ increased tolerance.”
The suit claims the manufacturers and distributors failed to educate patients and physicians of the dangers of opioid use despite knowing the addictive qualities of the opioids. It also notes that the city has seen a significant increase in expenditures on emergency calls related to opioid-related overdoses and crime.
“For example, the city was forced to add 21 police officers to its force and is seeking a grant to add seven new firefighters,” the complaint said. “The need for an additional fire station has also been documented.”
Other costs include funding health insurance, investigating drug-related crimes, incarcerating suspects, rehabilitating addicts and providing medical treatment.
“The costs created by defendants’ actions must ultimately be borne by defendants themselves, rather than Springfield taxpayers,” the complaint said.
The city is asking for a jury trial to determine damages.
The city is being represented by attorneys at Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton PC in Springfield; Morgan & Morgan Complex Litigation Group in Jacksonville, Florida; and Mehri & Skalet PLLC in Washington, D.C.