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Canada’s provinces have joined in the massive legal fight against Purdue Pharma over its introduction of OxyContin two decades ago, allegedly leading to the start of the devastating opioid crisis.
On Nov. 5, the provinces filed a claim for more than US $67 billion against Purdue Pharma in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
According to CBC News, British Columbia is seeking US $9.1 billion, Ontario is seeking US $26.1 billion and Quebec is seeking US $13.5 billion.
“The Canadian number looks large and it is large because it’s a significant problem,” lawyer Reidar Mogerman said. “I believe if you add in claims from U.S. entities you get numbers in excess of $2 trillion US. It’s really staggering.”
Mogerman is representing British Columbia in the class action cost recovery litigation. He compares this OxyContin litigation to legal actions filed over mass public injuries that were caused by tobacco use and asbestos exposure.
“It’s a product we thought was useful and it turned out to be extremely dangerous,” Mogerman said. “The carnage can only be addressed with society-wide tools.”
OxyContin’s Role in the Opioid Crisis
Purdue Pharma introduced OxyContin approximately two decades ago. Addiction experts are now recognizing the release of OxyContin as the start of the widespread opioid crisis.
OxyContin reportedly spread quickly to the streets and caused a significant public health crisis. The opioid crisis has also been linked to an increase in the use of fentanyl which has been blamed for the overdose deaths of more than 4,500 Canadians in 2018.
According to Mogerman, Purdue Pharma was hit by so many claims related to the opioid crisis that it sought bankruptcy protection in the United States. This has reportedly held up the legal process through which legal claims against Purdue Pharma are handled.
Purdue reportedly paid US $634.5 million to settle litigation in the United States after it was accused of misrepresenting OxyContin as less addictive than other prescription pain medications.
Health Canada has not investigated Purdue Pharma, according to CBC News.
Opioids are still available for use in the United States and Canada, but there have been more restrictions on their use and the way in which they are marketed.
Canada’s Opioid Crisis Class Action Lawsuit
Opioid makers are facing the potential of a Canadian opioid crisis class action lawsuit, which may be certified by a Quebec judge this month.
Purdue Pharma’s Canadian entities are included as defendants in the opioid crisis class action lawsuit.
Purdue Pharma has reportedly agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges in the United States as part of a US $8 billion settlement. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States and violation of federal anti-kickback laws.
“While the guilty plea in the U.S. does not have a direct impact on the Quebec proceedings, the admissions made by Purdue US of its role in a conspiracy to mislead the public about the risks of using opioids are consistent with the allegations made in the Quebec class action proceedings, and gives credence to the allegations that similar activities would have taken place in Quebec and Canada,” lawyer Mark Meland said.
Meland, a lawyer at Fishman Flanz Meland Paquin LLP in Montreal, is working on the Canada opioid crisis class action lawsuit.
British Columbia filed an opioid crisis class action lawsuit last year over allegations drug manufacturers misrepresented opioids as less addictive than other painkillers. Ontario and New Brunswick said they are participating in the opioid crisis class action lawsuit. Last month, Alberta announced that it would be joining the opioid class action lawsuit as part of an effort to recoup health care costs.
Earlier this year, the Alberta city of Grande Prairie said that it would also join an opioid crisis class action lawsuit.
Canada Turned Down Purdue Opioid Settlement Money
Canadian provinces have had a couple of opportunities to receive class action settlement money from Purdue Pharma but withdrew their support over concerns that the proposed amounts were inadequate.
According to CBC News, Canadian provinces nearly agreed to $2 million form a Purdue settlement offer, but withdrew their support after Saskatchewan judges found that the provinces failed to protect public funds.
Purdue also reportedly offered CAD $20 million to settle a Canadian opioid crisis class action lawsuit that was launched in 2007. Approximately 1,600 Class Members are part of that class action lawsuit. The provinces withdrew their support of the proposed Purdue settlement after judges’ expressed concern.
Have you or someone you know been affected by the opioid crisis? Tell us your story in the comments section below.
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25 thoughts onOxyContin Maker Sued by Provinces Over Opioid Crisis
My father was on OxyContin for years due to undiagnosed back and leg pain. It literally turned him into a vegetable. He went from a strong independent man to early onset dementia within months. It took his mind and his quality of life. What a terrible trade off.
There must be some recourse for this.
I’ve been a prisoner of opioids for a long time probably more than a decade now I have two very painful ? huge non healing wounds one on each lower legs. I’m in constant pain I can barely walk or do my regular home cleaning but I do anyways, with out the OxyContin and morphine I would not be able to do anything and as long as I have these painful ulcers and my auto immune deficiency problem I’ll be on these opioids for a long time and I’m not happy I have basically no life anymore it’s very sad and depressing no partner no kids no job it’s hell .
We have lost too many people who trust their doctors………….their oath upon medical graduation was “do no harm”
I would love to open up a claim as well on how my life was completely destroyed and what a challenge I had to over come my addiction from pills from pain in my back.
I have beenbbn taking oxy for over 25 years because of a car accedent an the doc told me that it will not be addivtive that was bull they were doing anything to get people to take them so they could get there kick back but now it is me that screwed up my life an being controled by those pills i am taking 60mg 4time a day an have been for 25 years an now o thought that people would be able to get a little compensation for all the problem that come with the pills but it seems like i will be dead before i see a dime of it an also tje lawyers are going to recievemlm more then the people that are effected by the oxywhich is just a nother way those pills screwed up our lives
i was given oxycontin for at least a year. Had to get off..too easy to get hooked on it.
I was told by my Doctor that the best way to manage my pain was long acting oxy which led t an additional years of methadone to get off it. I’m very disappointed to not be included in this lawsuit. Why wasn’t everyone included?
My beautiful daughter got toothache and prescribed opioids!! Got addicted ! Destroyed her life and left 2 girls motherless !
The opioid medication I was prescribed by my Doctor over 20 years ago for migraines has destroyed my life and is still an addiction I battle with to this day. It gets ahold of you so fast and won’t let go.
I know of a few people who have had fatal overdoses. I myself was lucky enough to fight through the addiction and will now probably be on suboxone the rest of my life. I’m thankful to be alive as I OD numerous times and was lucky enough to wake up.
I’ve never had an addiction to anything in my life, opiates grab you and don’t want to let you go.
I agree , though I have never had an OD, doctors had prescribed me opiates with no warnings, no indication of tolerance or addiction physically and eventually mentally
Suboxone is where I am left now too, it has actually saved me from the opioid road to higher and higher doses. I in no way enjoy suboxone, but it has saved me from tremendous amounts of pain I otherwise would have of going from 4-6 hours on other opioids.
However it has ruined other parts of my life, and caused me to be mistreated judged and I’ve received less care than and “average person” because of it.
I have had recordings of doctors openly admitting to Judging me and checking my medication file before even meeting me and then the care standards go downhill fast from there.
I have had major major issues recently after a major abdominal surgery surrounding suboxone and lack of knowledge in hospitals about it and safety regarding taking the drug. I had complications in the operating room, and extended time beyond what I should of had with : a one on one nurse, continuous oxygen, hospital length of stay, PAC pump, and then transitioning back to suboxone was nightmare and I was put into withdrawals prior to being discharged from hospital (because suboxone 3 years / then surgery so stopped suboxone 2 days prior as told by doctor, and then once pac pump gone they dropped my opioids to literally something for a first day pain person. Who never had a pain med in their life one 2mg pill every 4-6 hrs which one of my only worked probably for somebody but not somebody who has a tolerance or is transitioning from Suboxone impact to Suboxone. So I was sent home from hospital in full blown with drawls and they were all aware , and I was left in that state for a week with a full abdominal incision across on my stomach. until I could get a transition back to suboxone
The hospital is so disconnected and Un-knowledgeable about the suboxone it’s puts people at serious risk and they have to fight and advocate their own health’s
December 1, 2020
I’m aware of hundreds of citizens who were prescribed oxy contain and became addicted . Most who went to their Dr. to get help or be weaned off were told to go on Methadone, ( which is antagonist opioid !). Still a opioid!. Almost seemed like it was a planned event ,other way the pharmacy company received orders for scripts. All about winning their greedy pockets . Shame on them, its never going to bring hack all those lost in this opioid crisis . ??