Indiana Files Suit Against Family Accused In Opioid Crisis

Indiana’s Attorney General filed a new lawsuit aimed at the family behind Purdue Pharma. The state becomes the latest to accuse members of the Sackler family of exacerbating the opioid crisis.

The lawsuit names eight members of the family, including former Purdue Pharma President Richard Sackler.  It accuses them of deceptive marketing and misconduct that worsened the opioid crisis. 

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill filed the lawsuit in Marion County.

"We believe the Sackler’s wrongful acts have directly contributed to the wake of addiction, death and devastation in Indiana and across this country," says Hill. 

Indiana had more than 1,1oo opioid-related deaths in 2017.

The lawsuit details how the Sackler family continued to profit even after Purdue was found guilty of misleading people about the addictiveness of their drug, OxyContin.

"In this latest lawsuit, we allege that certain members of the Sackler family who served as directors or officers of Purdue Pharma directed or approved of, and participated in their companies destructive strategies," says Hill.

Last year, Indiana filed another suit against Purdue Pharma. That case is still pending.

Hill says any damages the state may win would be used to address the addiction crisis.