CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart pharmacies found liable for helping fuel opioid crisis

[Socrates]

A jury in Ohio ruled Tuesday that three major pharmaceutical chains bore
responsibility for the opioid epidemic in two Ohio counties.
The civil case, brought in federal court against CVS (CVS), Walmart
(WMT) and Walgreens, marks the first time pharmacies have been found
responsible in the nationwide epidemic.
"It is a precedent setting case," Mark Lanier, the lead trial attorney
for Lake and Trumbull Counties, told CNN Tuesday.

Damages are set to be adjudicated in the spring. Lanier said that each
county would be seeking over $1 billion in damages. Together, the
counties represent some 440,000 Ohioans, according to court documents.

The suit, which was initially filed in 2018, was part of the federal
multi-district litigation created that year to address the manifold
claims against opioid manufacturers and distributors.

The counties alleged that the pharmacies "abused their position of
special trust and responsibility" as registered dispensers of controlled
drugs, and in so doing "fostered a black market for prescription opioids."

"Prescription opioid pill mills and rogue prescribers cannot channel
opioids for illicit use without at least the tacit support and willful
blindness of the Defendants, if not their knowing support," the
complaint read.
In statements to CNN on Tuesday, all three pharmaceutical chains
indicated that they would appeal the verdict.

[Skeezix LaRocca]

Post by Socrates
A jury in Ohio ruled Tuesday that three major pharmaceutical chains bore
responsibility for the opioid epidemic in two Ohio counties.
The civil case, brought in federal court against CVS (CVS), Walmart
(WMT) and Walgreens, marks the first time pharmacies have been found
responsible in the nationwide epidemic.
"It is a precedent setting case," Mark Lanier, the lead trial attorney
for Lake and Trumbull Counties, told CNN Tuesday.
Damages are set to be adjudicated in the spring. Lanier said that each
county would be seeking over $1 billion in damages. Together, the
counties represent some 440,000 Ohioans, according to court documents.
The suit, which was initially filed in 2018, was part of the federal
multi-district litigation created that year to address the manifold
claims against opioid manufacturers and distributors.
The counties alleged that the pharmacies "abused their position of
special trust and responsibility" as registered dispensers of controlled
drugs, and in so doing "fostered a black market for prescription opioids."
"Prescription opioid pill mills and rogue prescribers cannot channel
opioids for illicit use without at least the tacit support and willful
blindness of the Defendants, if not their knowing support," the
complaint read.
In statements to CNN on Tuesday, all three pharmaceutical chains
indicated that they would appeal the verdict.

And these lawsuits are just getting started..Playing now on Hulu is the
series Dopesick..Granted, it is not a documentary, but a very well done
drama series, starring Michael Keaton..If you are a Hulu subscriber,
chances are, you will be hooked...Trust me..The trailer does not do the
series justice.

[Ted H]

On Wed, 24 Nov 2021 04:26:51 -0800 (PST),

Post by Socrates
A jury in Ohio ruled Tuesday that three major pharmaceutical
chains bore responsibility for the opioid epidemic in two Ohio
counties. The civil case, brought in federal court against CVS
(CVS), Walmart (WMT) and Walgreens, marks the first time
pharmacies have been found responsible in the nationwide
epidemic. "It is a precedent setting case," Mark Lanier, the
lead trial attorney for Lake and Trumbull Counties, told CNN
Tuesday.
Damages are set to be adjudicated in the spring. Lanier said
that each county would be seeking over $1 billion in damages.
Together, the counties represent some 440,000 Ohioans,
according to court documents.
The suit, which was initially filed in 2018, was part of the
federal multi-district litigation created that year to address
the manifold claims against opioid manufacturers and
distributors.
The counties alleged that the pharmacies "abused their
position of special trust and responsibility" as registered
dispensers of controlled drugs, and in so doing "fostered a
black market for prescription opioids."
"Prescription opioid pill mills and rogue prescribers cannot
channel opioids for illicit use without at least the tacit
support and willful blindness of the Defendants, if not their
knowing support," the complaint read. In statements to CNN on
Tuesday, all three pharmaceutical chains indicated that they
would appeal the verdict.

Yeah. We had a guy in the[local] group who [redacted, sorry.
"Knew quite a bit about it], and was absolutely furious.
The way he referred to the pharmacies and employees was "just
pushers, at this point."
I'm sorry to be so vague, but we *are* talking about lawsuits.
I hope you'll just take my word he knew what he was talking
about.
[Now that I think on it, there was also a woman who knew it
from a different angle, who was expressing some of the same
frustrations.]
Neither of these were executive washroom level folks, but it
was clear *they* saw what was happening. I cannot believe the
higher-ups didn't know what was going on.

I have no love lost for the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma, but they
were far from being the sole culprits.

I've heard really good things about the program from others too.