It's not just that they made and distributed a dangerous and addictive drug; it's that they denied it was addictive, marketed it aggressively, used illegal tactics to do it, and then lied about it.
That's why the US Department of Justice got a more than $8 billion dollar civil and criminal settlement last week with Purdue Pharma, the now bankrupt makers of Oxycontin, and why Summit County is also involved in litigation with other opiod makers, distributors, and pharmacies.
Jeanne Destro talked to US Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Justin Herdman, as well as Summit County Executive, Ilene Shapiro and her Deputy Chief Of Staff, Greta Johnson about ongoing legal efforts to make the people and companies they maintain are responsible for the opiod epdiemc, pay in a big way.
First, US Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Justin Herdman, on the recent DOJ settlement with Purdue Pharma:
Next, Summit County Executive, Ilene Shapiro, and her Deputy Chief of Staff, Greta Johnson: