West Virginia Lawsuit Holds Opioid Makers Responsible for Babies Born Addicted

A lawsuit filed in the Southern District of West Virginia alleges marketing tactics by drugmakers and distributors caused children to be born addicted to opioids.

The suit, filed on behalf of a proposed class of addicted children, names more than 20 drugmakers and distributors, including Purdue, Allergan, Teva, Actavis, Endo, Mallinckrodt, Cardinal Health and McKesson.

Plaintiff Jodi Shaffer claims “R.C.,” a child for whom she is a court-appointed guardian, was diagnosed with opioid-related neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) at birth in 2010 due to in utero exposure to the drugs. The complaint seeks public nuisance damages as well as relief to defray the cost of testing, monitoring, intervention and caregiver training.