OxyContin Fallout Continues

  In the past few weeks news media have reported surges of break-ins in and around St. John’s.  The chances are excellent that these crimes were driven by OxyContin addiction.  The perpetrators take whatever they can get their hands on and sell it or trade it for drugs.  OxyContin was a favorite “sex for drugs” tool of the infamous Dr. Sean Buckingham, finally behind bars where he can no longer prey on patients. 

  The fallout from Purdue Pharma’s guilty plea last year will be raining down for some time yet.  The company and three top executives paid fines totaling $634 million U.S. for the offence of misbranding OxyContin, but served no jail time.  One of the Purdue executives who plead guilty was Howard Udell, chief legal officer.  Now he faces disciplinary action and the possible loss of his license to practice law.

  Marianne Skolek lost her daughter to OxyContin addiction and now spends her time pursuing Purdue Pharma executives to a fuller measure of justice.  Udell defended himself in disciplinary proceedings and argued that the U.S. government conceded last year that it had an absence of proof that the individual defendants knew about the wrongdoing described in federal criminal charges.  As reported by the Pharmalot Blog yesterday, a poll of readers were asked whether Udell should lose his license.  69% thought yes, 31% voted no. 

  Purdue and OxyContin have done widespread damage in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and my firm and the Wagner law firm in Halifax commenced class proceedings last year. 

  In Toronto this month, Ray Wagner met with some class action lawyers who have also commenced proceedings against Purdue.  We are actively strategizing the best venue and manner of proceeding with the civil class action, and will keep our clients informed.