County files opioid lawsuit

The Carlton County attorney’s office filed a lawsuit in federal district court Friday, June 14, against six of the nation’s largest opioid manufacturers — including Purdue Pharma, Cephalon, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and the three largest distributors of prescription drugs — McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation. Carlton County alleges that these companies used deceptive marketing tactics with the intent to maximize profits while minimizing both the addictive nature of these drugs, and the health risks to patients. The highly addictive nature of opioids, which are powerful painkillers, has led to a major public health crisis nationwide, in Minnesota, and in Carlton County.

The case isn’t being prosecuted by the county attorney’s office. County attorney Lauri Ketola explained that the county previously hired a Twin Cities firm which is handling these claims for a number of governmental entities.

“We filed our complaint on Friday,” Ketola said, noting that the filing is part of the class action lawsuit.

Carlton County has seen an increase in the number of opioid deaths and addiction-related cases in the past decade. The lawsuit asserts claims against manufacturers and distributors in connection with their roles in the crisis.