Mora County has become the first New Mexico governmental entity to seek damages against the manufacturers and distributors of opioid painkillers.<\/p>\n
Mora County Commissioners, Paula A. Garcia (Chair), George A. Trujillo, and Alfonso J. Griego unanimously voted Monday (August 14, 2017) to retain the firms of Napoli Shkolnik, (New York) and Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C. (Albuquerque) to file a lawsuit on behalf of Mora County. Mora County joins numerous governmental entities nationwide already represented by Napoli Shkolnik. In New Mexico, the Napoli law firm has associated Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway. Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway is an Albuquerque-based law firm that focuses on catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation to ensure corporate accountability.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit filed against various manufacturers and distributors of prescription opiates alleges fraudulent and negligent marketing and distribution of opiates. The lawsuit seeks damages to be paid to Mora County for costs it has incurred in combating the opioid epidemic.\u00a0The law firms\u00a0stated that they are aware of interest on the part of other governmental entities to join in the litigation effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cMora County is proud to lead the charge in New Mexico in this ground-breaking litigation,\u201d stated Paula A. Garcia, Chair, Mora County Commissioner\u2019s board. Ms. Garcia stated \u201cthe opioid epidemic<\/a> has caused devastation, touched virtually every citizen\u2019s life and certainly has caused the County to incur expenses and utilize resources needlessly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor many years the manufacturers and distributors of opioid pain medications have earned billions of dollars in profits flooding this country with opioids\u201d says Napoli Shkolnik attorney Joseph L. Ciaccio<\/a>, \u201cthese lawsuits seek to force those companies to clean up the devastation caused by these pills.\u201d<\/p>\n Josh Conaway of Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway notes that \u201cthe rate of opioid overdose related emergency department visits has increased in New Mexico between 2010 and 2015. In 2014, three out of every 4 drug overdose deaths involved prescription opioids or heroin. Mora County has one of the highest opioid overdose rates of any New Mexico county.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese drug companies have poisoned our communities and polluted our children\u201d says Paul Napoli<\/a>, of counsel for Napoli Shkolnik . \u201cThe painkiller overdose epidemic is a classic case of putting profits before people,\u201d he said. \u201cMany opioid manufacturers were so intent on selling as much product as possible that they either turned a blind eye towards, or intentionally buried, reports that these drugs were highly addictive and potentially deadly.\u201d<\/p>\n We strongly recommend that you speak with an experienced Napoli Shkolnik attorney to discuss your legal options concerning the opioid epidemic. The consultation<\/a> is free.<\/p>\n
\nIn the News<\/h5>\n