Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP Represents Delray Beach in Opioid Epidemic Lawsuit, the First Filing in Federal Court by a Municipality in Florida
December 21, 2017 – San Diego, CA
In representing the city of Delray Beach against several pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors related to the nationwide opioid epidemic, Robbins Geller has filed the first action in federal court by a Florida municipality regarding what public health officials have called the worst drug crisis in American history.
“Cities, like ours, face immeasurable human tragedies and escalating, multi-million dollar fiscal impacts due, in part, to the negligence and fraud of opioid manufacturers and distributors who reaped billions while knowingly, if not intentionally, spawning the current and next generation of opioid addicts. We look forward to our day in court to redress the financial damages our taxpayers have been forced to shoulder,” said Cary D. Glickstein, Mayor of Delray Beach.
The lawsuit focuses on nine pharmaceutical companies that allegedly used Big Tobacco-style marketing of prescription drugs to increase sales, leading to otherwise avoidable deaths. There have been more than 183,000 deaths in the United States between 1999 and 2015 from overdoses directly related to prescription opioids, and the city of Delray Beach alone responded to 690 overdoses last year. “Our firm is committed to holding opioid manufacturers and distributers accountable for their fraudulent marketing of opioids, which has fueled the worst drug scourge ever,” said Robbins Geller Partner Mark J. Dearman.
“The defendants’ massive nationwide campaign of false marketing, and their failure to report suspicious sales as required by law, resulted in dramatic increases in prescribing which advanced in lockstep with overdose deaths,” added Robbins Geller Partner Paul J. Geller. Robbins Geller attorneys Paul J. Geller, Mark J. Dearman and Aelish Baig are litigating the case on behalf of Delray Beach and other clients around the country.
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About Robbins Geller
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is widely recognized as a leading law firm advising and representing clients in complex litigation, including litigation involving consumer fraud, securities fraud, antitrust claims, ERISA claims, insurance fraud and intellectual property, as well as whistleblower protection and qui tam suits. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller has obtained many of the largest class action recoveries in history. Robbins Geller attorneys have recovered tens of billions of dollars on behalf of the Firm’s clients. Robbins Geller not only secures recoveries for defrauded consumers and investors, it also implements significant corporate governance reforms, helping to improve the financial markets worldwide.
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Contact:
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
Mark J. Dearman, 800-449-4900
mdearman@rgrdlaw.com