News (Media Awareness Project) - US WV: Lawsuit Filed Over OxyContin Death |
| Title: | US WV: Lawsuit Filed Over OxyContin Death |
| Published On: | 2001-10-19 |
| Source: | Beckley Register-Herald (WV) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-25 06:35:32 |
LAWSUIT FILED OVER OXYCONTIN DEATH
LEWISBURG - The husband of a Greenbrier County woman who died two years ago
after taking the painkiller OxyContin has filed suit against the doctor who
prescribed the drug and the drug's manufacturers
According to the lawsuit, Rebecca Ann Allen, 43, of Alderson, consulted
Fairlea osteopath Debra Sams in 1998 for a painful back injury. Sams
prescribed OxyContin.
Allen became addicted to the drug and eventually overdosed on it in October
1999.
The lawsuit claims Sams was negligent for failing to warn Allen of the
risks of OxyContin and failing to properly monitor her treatment.
The lawsuit also claims the manufacturers and marketing firms knew the drug
could cause dangerous addiction yet withheld that information. The
companies also provided false and misleading information about the drug,
the lawsuit claims.
Companies named as defendants are Purdue Pharma L.P., The Purdue Frederick
Co., Purdue Pharmaceuticals L.P., The P.F. Laboratories Inc., PRA Holdings
Inc. and Abbott Laboratories. The companies are located in Delaware and New
Jersey.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages for Allen's estate.
The lawsuit was filed Oct. 2 in Greenbrier County Circuit Court by the
Charleston law firm of Hunt & Serreno. Allen's husband, Brian W. Allen, the
administrator of her estate, is listed as the plaintiff.
Attorney Mark Hunt said his firm has "several hundred" other clients who
are seeking damages from the use of OxyContin, and he hopes to combine all
the claims in a class-action lawsuit. About 10 of the cases involve people
who died from using the drug, he said.
"These lawsuits are aimed at the manufacturer," Hunt said. "We consider
OxyContin to be a defective product. The manufacturer over-promoted the drug."
The firm has also filed a lawsuit in McDowell County, he said.
West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw has filed a class-action
lawsuit in McDowell County Circuit Court to recoup state funds related to
the use of OxyContin, he noted.
Sams did not return a phone call seeking comment.
LEWISBURG - The husband of a Greenbrier County woman who died two years ago
after taking the painkiller OxyContin has filed suit against the doctor who
prescribed the drug and the drug's manufacturers
According to the lawsuit, Rebecca Ann Allen, 43, of Alderson, consulted
Fairlea osteopath Debra Sams in 1998 for a painful back injury. Sams
prescribed OxyContin.
Allen became addicted to the drug and eventually overdosed on it in October
1999.
The lawsuit claims Sams was negligent for failing to warn Allen of the
risks of OxyContin and failing to properly monitor her treatment.
The lawsuit also claims the manufacturers and marketing firms knew the drug
could cause dangerous addiction yet withheld that information. The
companies also provided false and misleading information about the drug,
the lawsuit claims.
Companies named as defendants are Purdue Pharma L.P., The Purdue Frederick
Co., Purdue Pharmaceuticals L.P., The P.F. Laboratories Inc., PRA Holdings
Inc. and Abbott Laboratories. The companies are located in Delaware and New
Jersey.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages for Allen's estate.
The lawsuit was filed Oct. 2 in Greenbrier County Circuit Court by the
Charleston law firm of Hunt & Serreno. Allen's husband, Brian W. Allen, the
administrator of her estate, is listed as the plaintiff.
Attorney Mark Hunt said his firm has "several hundred" other clients who
are seeking damages from the use of OxyContin, and he hopes to combine all
the claims in a class-action lawsuit. About 10 of the cases involve people
who died from using the drug, he said.
"These lawsuits are aimed at the manufacturer," Hunt said. "We consider
OxyContin to be a defective product. The manufacturer over-promoted the drug."
The firm has also filed a lawsuit in McDowell County, he said.
West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw has filed a class-action
lawsuit in McDowell County Circuit Court to recoup state funds related to
the use of OxyContin, he noted.
Sams did not return a phone call seeking comment.
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