Drugmakers face increasing litigation risk over opioids
Drugmakers that produce and sell opioid painkillers are facing increasing litigation pressure, with a Kentucky county joining the multi-county, multi-state effort to sue and recoup from these distributors. Now, 41 states are working together to investigate the drugmakers;they have issued subpoenas to Endo International, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Allergan, and additional subpoenas to Purdue Pharma. Documents have also been demanded from distribution firms AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson. This comes as America's lethal prescription painkiller crisis is beginning to spread globally, with nations like the UK seeing similar patterns of addiction. 
HENDERSON, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky county is joining a multi-county, multi-state effort to sue opioid distributors to recoup costs associated with the drug epidemic.

The Henderson County Fiscal Court voted unanimously Tuesday pursue litigation, after a presentation by attorney Jeff Gaddy of Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Rafferty and Proctor, P.A., one of the firms spearheading the lawsuit.

Gaddy told The Gleaner the lawsuit targets wholesale distributors who may not have complied with regulations. Ohio, West Virginia and Alabama have joined the lawsuit.

Gaddy says around 20 lawsuits have been filed in Kentucky thus far.

The agreement between the Henderson fiscal court and attorneys says the county will pay the firms 30 percent of any award, but won't bear upfront costs or have to pay if there's no monetary recovery.

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Information from: The Gleaner, http://www.thegleaner.com/