Developments in Our Current Opioid Litigation

Published in Local News, Safety on February 27, 2018

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The opioid epidemic has hit the country in a way we’ve never seen, and Massachusetts is one state among many struggling to protect its residents from this crisis. The legal team at Sweeney Merrigan Law understands how devastating it is to lose someone in such a traumatic way and has joined with other legal teams to form MOLA in an effort to curb this epidemic. Here are some recent developments and progress being made in our current litigation.

Methuen and the Opioid Lawsuit

The city of Methuen is taking part in an effort across the country to take on the opioid crisis. They are just one of the many cities and towns in the Massachusetts lawsuit. The lawsuit claims that some of the large pharmaceutical companies have been pushing opioids on the community in the name of financial gain. The lawsuit is also stating that the companies and distributors mislead doctors by downplaying the likelihood of someone developing an opioid addiction.

According to the Department of Public Health, Methuen had 14 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016. In 2015, they had half that number. Opioids have become more common than alcohol as the reason people go to treatment for addictions. Not only has the opioid crisis cost the city lives, it has also cost the city money in hiring people to help fight addiction, increasing education about opioids, opening more treatment centers, and many other things.

The Opioid Lawsuit in Greenfield

Last fall, Greenfield joined the lawsuit filed against pharmaceutical companies in an effort to gain compensation for the damage opioid abuse has done to their community. Some of the defendants for the lawsuit are McKessen Corporation, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergan. Greenfield is claiming damages to compensate for the extra money they have had to spend because of opioid addiction and overdoses. The damages include law enforcement costs, needle exchanges, money spent to buy the drug Narcan to stop and reverse overdoses, and various other costs for opioid treatment.

Charlton and Other Massachusetts Communities Are Joining the Fight

Recently, Charlton decided to join in the lawsuit against three Massachusetts pharmaceutical companies. Charlton is currently working to determine the damages they have experienced because of the Massachusetts opioid crisis. The damages would include police, health services, issues with children, accidents, rescues, and any injuries to staff that were caused by opioids. According to the state Department of Public Health, Charlton had 3 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016.

The town of Southbridge has advanced a proposal to join the lawsuit against the pharmaceutical companies. They experienced 7 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016.

Webster, a Massachusetts town with 56 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016, is considering the situation, and people are predicting that they will join the lawsuit. Worcester has received proposals from multiple law firms about joining.

The Massachusetts Opioid Crisis

Opioids are becoming a the most dangerous substance abused all across the United States, and Massachusetts is no exception to this threat. The number of opioid-related fatalities is growing each year. While it remains to be seen if the lawsuit against the pharmaceutical companies will result in any significant change, our firm is fighting to ensure that these deaths and the devastation caused to these families does not go unnoticed and unpunished. Contact our office today if you or someone you love has been harmed by opioids in Massachusetts.

For more information, call our law office at (617)-391-9001. Or if you would prefer to email us, then please visit our contact page.