JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Today, Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a motion to add additional claims in the state of Missouri’s lawsuit against Purdue Pharma and other defendants and ramp up efforts to hold manufacturers accountable. Schmitt has continued the state of Missouri’s lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, Endo Pharmaceuticals, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals and their parent company Johnson and Johnson. Today, Schmitt expanded the claims against Purdue Pharma and other defendants, alleging public nuisance and unjust enrichment.
“In our lawsuit, we allege that certain manufacturers of opioids used deceptive marketing tactics, downplaying the addictive nature and danger of these prescription drugs. With other states moving forward, it is due time to put added pressure on holding these manufacturers accountable,” said Schmitt. “By expanding this lawsuit, we’re sending a clear message that we aren’t backing down from this fight – rather we’re enhancing our efforts. It’s my duty to seek justice for harm done to Missourians, and that’s what I plan to do.”
Since taking office in January, Schmitt has been a leader on fighting back against opioid manufacturers’ deceptive marketing practices. In 2017, then-Attorney General Josh Hawley filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, Endo Pharmaceuticals, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals and their parent company Johnson and Johnson. Schmitt has continued the lawsuit, and on April 16th launched the Real Opioid Pain Initiative, which seeks stories from Missourians on how opioids have affected them. Certain stories may then be used as evidence moving forward.
In the motion filed today, Schmitt moved to expand the lawsuit against Purdue Pharma and other defendants, adding a public nuisance and unjust enrichment claim.
Please find the final motion and first amended petition here and here (note that these are the final versions filed with the court, but they are not file stamped).
