Members of the family made a fortune while directing company officials to falsely claim the prescription drug was not addictive, thus contributing to the opioid epidemic in Vermont and elsewhere, Attorney General T.J. Donovan said at a Burlington press conference announcing the lawsuit.
“They made billions of dollars off the backs of patients who became addicted to OxyContin. They made billions of dollars. The entire Sackler family has been unjustly enriched by their misdeeds,” Donovan said.
Vermont has already filed a suit against the Sacklers’ company, Purdue, as well as Cardinal Health and McKesson, two of the largest drug distributors who profited off the nationwide opioid epidemic.
The Vermont suit names Richard S. Sackler, Beverly Sackler, David Sackler, Ilene Sackler Lefcourt, Jonathan D. Sackler, Kathe Sackler, Mortimer D.A. Sackler and Theresa Sackler.
The eight were “active participants” in the deception about OxyContin and served as officers or board members of the company between 1996 and 2018, Donovan said.
The Sacklers directed an advertising strategy that minimized the health risks of OxyContin, and urged sales reps to expand the market to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, according to the lawsuit.
They also directed sales representatives to promote higher dose products, which were more lucrative because they were more expensive, but also more dangerous and addictive, according to the suit.
No specific monetary damages were named in the suit. Donovan said that if Vermont wins any money, it might be directed to prevention and treatment.
The press conference took place at the nonprofit Howard Center on Flynn Avenue with its CEO, Bob Bick, looking on.
Donovan praised the organization and Bick for helping to lead Vermont’s fight against the opioid epidemic and working for medication-assisted treatment programs statewide.
“They have been on the front lines before anyone in addressing the opioid crisis in this state,” Donovan said, adding that the Howard Center “has saved thousands of lives in this state.”
He also thanked Bick for setting an “example of fearless advocacy.”
Read the lawsuit, with some sections redacted by the AG’s office, below:
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THANK YOU T.J.
The local liberal attack on capitalism.
“Attack on capitalism”?? Capitalism doesn’t need protection, it’s an easily corruptible system that requires regulation and control to avoid abuse by the wealthy.
They spend trillions advertising the evils of regulation and government. And millions of Americans buy their propaganda. The government was created because we used to live in poverty and misery without a powerful regulatory system. Proof: the middle ages.
Too many people are swayed by the anti-regulation propaganda of Australian billionaire Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News, which has convinced millions of Americans to vote to give more power and money to the wealthy, trusting they’d spread it around to the rest of us. Newsflash: They don’t.
Fox News anti-government propaganda, closing polling places, gerrymandering, have all helped transfer most of our wealth to the wealthy. Since Trump, we don’t even tax their inheritances any more. Lucky Ivanka! Lucky Don Jr! All while they blame immigrants and poor people for taking jobs and money. Meanwhile today, many trillion-dollar corporations pay zero federal tax.
From 1940 to 1980 middle class income doubled. From 1980 to 2018, middle class income halved, adjusted for inflation. CEO’s getting 50 million dollars while their workers get food stamps and beg for medical care and insulin on GoFundMe.
There is only one way to return America to the prosperity we enjoyed under the progressive era. Please vote. Millions of us coming together to vote have more power than any corrupt politician. The national Republican party wants to take away our freedom to our bodies, our ability to earn a decent living, and to peacefully raise our children in a healthy environment. You have the power to stop them, please use it.