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.

Today, 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.

 

"Today'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.

 

To read more about the opioid epidemic in NY's counties, visit www.nysac.org/health.