A dozen years ago, the federal government came down hard on Purdue Pharma, fining the drugmaker and three of its executives a record $634 million for misbranding its blockbuster OxyContin pill as safer and less addictive than other painkillers. In the decade leading up to the 2007 fine, Purdue helped change the culture of prescribing… Continue reading ‘SELL BABY SELL’: Inside the Opioid Industry’s Marketing Machine
Tag: product liability
U.S. Prosecutors Open Criminal Probe of Opioid Makers, Distributors
Federal prosecutors are investigating six pharmaceutical companies for potential criminal charges in connection with shipping big quantities of opioid painkillers that contributed to a healthcare crisis, according to regulatory filings. Five companies have received subpoenas from the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of New York as part of the investigation: drugmakers Teva Pharmaceutical… Continue reading U.S. Prosecutors Open Criminal Probe of Opioid Makers, Distributors
Supreme Court Says Sandy Hook Families Can Sue the Remington Gun Maker
In a major blow to the firearms industry, the U.S. Supreme Court will not block the families of victims of the Sandy Hook shooting from suing the gun maker Remington. The nation’s highest court on Tuesday denied an appeal by the Remington Arms Company to review a lower court’s ruling that allowed the families to… Continue reading Supreme Court Says Sandy Hook Families Can Sue the Remington Gun Maker
Juul Disregarded Early Evidence It Was Hooking Teens
The San Francisco startup that invented the groundbreaking Juul e-cigarette had a central goal during its development: captivating users with the first hit. The company had concluded that consumers had largely rejected earlier e-cigarettes, former employees told Reuters, because the devices either failed to deliver enough nicotine or delivered it with a harsh taste. Developers… Continue reading Juul Disregarded Early Evidence It Was Hooking Teens
Former Juul Exec Alleges Company Shipped Tainted Products
A Juul Labs executive who was fired earlier this year is alleging that the vaping company knowingly shipped 1 million tainted nicotine pods to customers. The allegation comes in a lawsuit filed Tuesday by lawyers representing Siddharth Breja, a one-time finance executive at the e-cigarette maker. The suit claims that Breja was terminated after opposing… Continue reading Former Juul Exec Alleges Company Shipped Tainted Products
Tesla’s Futuristic Door Handles Blamed for Death in Fiery Wreck
The futuristic door handles on Tesla Inc.’s Model S are being blamed for a fatal crash in which a police officer was unable to pull a man to safety from his burning car. Omar Awan, a 48-year-old anesthesiologist, was driving his leased Tesla in February when he lost control on a south Florida parkway and… Continue reading Tesla’s Futuristic Door Handles Blamed for Death in Fiery Wreck
Major Drug Companies Reach Last-Minute $260 Million Opioid Settlement
The three major drug distributors and an opioid manufacturer have reached a settlement worth $260 million to avoid the landmark first federal opioid trial that was set to begin here Monday. Judge Dan A. Polster of the Northern District of Ohio announced from the bench Monday morning that the deal was struck around 1 a.m.… Continue reading Major Drug Companies Reach Last-Minute $260 Million Opioid Settlement
Juul Halts Sales of Fruit, Dessert Flavors for E-Cigarettes, Will Continue Sale of Most Popular Flavors
Juul Labs will stop selling fruit and dessert flavors for its electronic cigarettes. The voluntary step announced Thursday is the company’s latest concession as it tries to weather a political backlash blaming its flavored-nicotine products for hooking a generation of teenagers. The move is unlikely to satisfy the company’s critics. Juul will continue selling its… Continue reading Juul Halts Sales of Fruit, Dessert Flavors for E-Cigarettes, Will Continue Sale of Most Popular Flavors
Opioid Epidemic Cost the U.S. Economy at Least $631 Billion Over Four Years
The opioid epidemic cost the U.S. economy at least $631 billion from 2015 to 2018, according to a Society of Actuaries’ (SOA) analysis of non-medical opioid use during this timeframe. The SOA report, authored by Milliman, also projected future costs of the opioid epidemic for 2019 based on three scenarios reflecting how the crisis may… Continue reading Opioid Epidemic Cost the U.S. Economy at Least $631 Billion Over Four Years
Survey Finds Widespread Unaddressed Safety Recalls in Used-Car Sales Listings
One in 9 vehicles had an open recall, according to the examination of more than 2,400 for-sale listings at dealerships under the umbrella of AutoNation. A survey by three consumer advocacy groups of used vehicles offered for sale through the largest automobile retailer in the country has found widespread instances of unaddressed safety recalls. The… Continue reading Survey Finds Widespread Unaddressed Safety Recalls in Used-Car Sales Listings