NEW CASTLE — Lawrence County is suing several physicians and pharmaceutical companies, citing alleged violation of the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act, as well as fraud, unjust enrichment, negligence, negligent misrepresentation and causing a public nuisance.
The defendants are Purdue Pharma LP, Purdue Pharma Inc., The Purdue Frederick Co. Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Cephalon, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Endo Health Solutions Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Allergan PLC, Actavis Inc., Watson Laboratories Inc., Actavis LLC, Actavis Pharma Inc., McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., Amerisourcebergen Corp., Dr. Russell Portenoy, Dr. Perry Fine, Dr. Scott Fishman and Dr. Lynn Webster.
According to filings made in the Court of Common Pleas of Lawrence County, the defendants allegedly convinced the public that the use of opioids to treat chronic pain was beneficial and safe.
The county said Lawrence County and its residents suffered damages and have had to increase expenditures related to health care, law enforcement, the justice system and child and family services, and that tax revenue has been lost as a result of the opioid crisis.
The plaintiff said the defendants are responsible because they allegedly disseminated misleading information about the benefits and risks of using opioids.
The county requests a trial by jury and compensatory, treble and punitive damages, disbursements, costs and interest and attorneys' fees. It is represented by Robert Peirce of Robert Peirce & Associates PC in Pittsburgh and Joseph Cappelli of Marc J. Bern & Partners LLP in Conshohocken.
Court of Common Pleas of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania case number 11180-17