Dozens of New York State counties have filed suit against
pharmaceutical companies for deceptive marketing practices, claiming these
practices were meant to minimize the addiction risks of opioids.
Monday, State Supreme
Court Justice Jerry Garguilo denied several Motions to Dismiss filed by various
manufacturers of opioid-related pharmaceuticals. The counties allege that the Defendant
manufacturers fueled statewide and community-based addiction crises through
false advertising and deceptive marketing.
"Monday's decision validates the efforts of the New
York counties that there are triable issues of fact which should proceed before
the State Supreme Court. It's a very important milestone in this ongoing
national and state litigation with far-reaching consequences that are felt in
our counties every day. The effects of
opioid addiction and destruction are pervasive, and today's decision marks an
important turning point," said Stephen J. Acquario, Executive Director and
General Counsel to the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC).
In addition to the New York counties' pending action in New
York State Supreme Court in Suffolk County, there are hundreds of state and
local government cases filed in federal court, consolidated in the Northern
District of Ohio.
