Legally prescribed painkillers Oxycontin and OxyNeo have caused many Canadians to be addicted to opioids. Purdue Pharma, the company that manufactures the drugs, has agreed to settle a number of class action litigation lawsuits in Canada to the tune of $20 million. Plaintiffs must be able to prove they suffered harm after taking the drug.
Those taking the drug legally between Jan. 1996 and Feb. 2017 may be entitled to compensation for any injuries they suffered from it. Part of the settlement is a company denial of all allegations made against it in the lawsuits. In other words, it doesn’t admit these allegations are true and denies doing anything wrong.
The first class action litigation suit against the company was launched in 2007. More than 4,000 individuals have asked to be included in the settlement. As more people become aware of the settlement it is likely more people will come forward. Plaintiffs won’t be seeing all of the $20 million. Health care workers can get $2 million of that for making available any further claims against Purdue, and lawyers’ fees will also be subtracted from the amount.
The settlement becomes effective if the court decides it is fair, reasonable and in the best interests of the people named in the class action litigation. A lawyer in Canada experienced in litigation and appeals law would be able to offer advice and guidance on how best to proceed with the litigation process. Before launching any lawsuit, it is important to talk to a lawyer — he or she will assess the underlying claim and discuss all legal options available.
Source: ctvnews.ca, “OxyContin users await compensation from Canadian lawsuits“, Accessed on Aug. 11, 2017
