Nadine Bews
Well-Known Member
https://www.siskinds.com/class-action/oxycontin-2/
On June 8, 2007, the law firms of Rochon Genova LLP and Siskinds LLP filed a class action on behalf of all persons in Canada (excluding Quebec) who were prescribed and ingested Oxycontin against the manufacturers of the drug, Purdue Pharma, Purdue Pharma Inc., Purdue Frederick Inc., The Purdue Frederick Company Inc., and Purdue Pharma LP (the "Defendants").
Addiction, Abuse and Overdose
Oxycontin is prescribed for moderate to severe, chronic pain. Use of Oxycontin has been linked to addiction and abuse of the drug, overdoses and sometimes death. A similar action was filed in Quebec by Siskinds Desmeules in May 2007.
The claim alleges that the Defendants knew or ought to have known that ingesting Oxycontin leads to drug dependency and addiction.
Developments
The parties have reached an agreement to settle multiple proposed class actions commenced across Canada relating to addiction-related harms allegedly caused by the drugs, OxyContin® and OxyNEO®. The settlement agreement was approved in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia; however, the agreement is conditional on it being approved by the court in Saskatchewan. The settlement agreement can be viewed here.
If you have already provided us with your email or mailing address, you will have received official notice of the national settlement agreement. Notice was also published in newspapers and online. The notice can be viewed here.
As the notice sets out in further detail, the Saskatchewan Court must approve the settlement for it to be final and to have effect. The Saskatchewan Court had requested additional information and further submissions to the court were made on January 5, 2018. By reasons released on March 15, 2018, the Saskatchewan Court declined to approve the settlement. The Court was not satisfied:
On June 8, 2007, the law firms of Rochon Genova LLP and Siskinds LLP filed a class action on behalf of all persons in Canada (excluding Quebec) who were prescribed and ingested Oxycontin against the manufacturers of the drug, Purdue Pharma, Purdue Pharma Inc., Purdue Frederick Inc., The Purdue Frederick Company Inc., and Purdue Pharma LP (the "Defendants").
Addiction, Abuse and Overdose
Oxycontin is prescribed for moderate to severe, chronic pain. Use of Oxycontin has been linked to addiction and abuse of the drug, overdoses and sometimes death. A similar action was filed in Quebec by Siskinds Desmeules in May 2007.
The claim alleges that the Defendants knew or ought to have known that ingesting Oxycontin leads to drug dependency and addiction.
Developments
The parties have reached an agreement to settle multiple proposed class actions commenced across Canada relating to addiction-related harms allegedly caused by the drugs, OxyContin® and OxyNEO®. The settlement agreement was approved in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia; however, the agreement is conditional on it being approved by the court in Saskatchewan. The settlement agreement can be viewed here.
If you have already provided us with your email or mailing address, you will have received official notice of the national settlement agreement. Notice was also published in newspapers and online. The notice can be viewed here.
As the notice sets out in further detail, the Saskatchewan Court must approve the settlement for it to be final and to have effect. The Saskatchewan Court had requested additional information and further submissions to the court were made on January 5, 2018. By reasons released on March 15, 2018, the Saskatchewan Court declined to approve the settlement. The Court was not satisfied:
- that the Provincial Healthcare Insurers met certain of their own internal requirements to consent to the settlement; and
- with the explanation given for the compromise contained in the settlement. The Court invited the parties to return with additional evidence on these points. We are currently considering the options on how to best move forward on behalf of the class. Again, the settlement must be approved by the Court in Saskatchewan for it to be final and to have effect.