nj.com: Hudson County sues makers of opioids
4/17/2018
Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise (Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal)
Hudson County this week joined the growing list of public entities suing opioid manufacturers, alleging the companies spent decades convincing the public that their drugs are safe and downplaying their addictive nature.
The drug manufacturers and distributors named in the suit -- including the Sackler family, owner of Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin -- have destroyed communities and left state and local governments to pay much of the cost of treating people addicted to opioids, the 139-page lawsuit says.
The complaint mirrors the allegations in lawsuits filed by New Jersey's attorney general, Newark and cities across the nation struggling to deal with spikes in opioid addiction and violent crime authorities believe is connected to drug addiction and drug overdose deaths. Hundreds of lawsuits targeting drug companies have been consolidated before a federal judge in Cleveland, who has said he wants a swift resolution.
Hudson County's nine-count suit is the culmination of a years-long effort by county officials. The county is accusing the drug companies of fraud, negligence and acting in violation of anti-racketeering laws. It was filed in Hudson County Superior Court on Tuesday.