Drug-Addicted Kentucky Goes After OxyContin in "Potentially Crippling" Suit

Oct. 23, 2014

Purdue, maker of best-selling painkiller OxyContin, is accused in a civil suit filed by the state of Kentucky of several actions that helped foster addiction.

Purdue says the lawsuit could result in a catastrophic $1 billion judgment against it, based on Kentucky's allegations as well as the potential for punitive damages and pre- and post-judgment interest.

The Kentucky suit alleges that Purdue trained its sales team to falsely portray OxyContin as difficult to abuse, misleading doctorsinto believing that OxyContin didn’t produce a “buzz” and was less addictive than shorter-acting drugs. According to Bloomberg, the 12 claims against the company include Medicaid fraud, false advertising, creating a public nuisance, and unjust enrichment.

Read the Bloomberg story