The Poppell v. Cardinal Health Litigation Documents consist of transcripts, interrogatories, briefs and motions, complaint and answers, orders, and trial materials.
On March 1, 2023, a jury cleared wholesale drug distributors Cardinal Health Inc., McKesson Corporation, and J M Smith Corporation against claims that they violated Georgia’s Drug Dealer Liability Act and the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute when supplying pharmacies with opioids. The 21 plaintiffs are family members of individuals who became addicted to opioids. It was the first lawsuit to come to trial brought by individual victims of the opioid crisis against pharmaceutical companies, rather than by government entities.
The defendants, which also include pharmacies, pharmacy owners and pharmacists, were charged for actions related to the illegal sales, marketing and distribution of controlled substances. The allegations included ignoring warnings by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), filling pharmacy orders without a legitimate medical need, failing to report on excessive purchase and unusual and suspicious orders, and violating their obligations to prevent diversion.
The records in this collection were provided to OIDA by the law office of Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP.
Documents in the collection include trial and hearing transcripts, trial exhibit lists, trial witness lists, statements of fact, expert disclosures, responses to requests for production of documents, briefs in support of motion to dismiss, and a request to file original depositions under seal. The documents detail the roles and responsibilities of pharmacies, pharmacists, and distributors in dispensing opioid medication within the regulatory system, specifically related to efforts to prevent drug abuse and diversion.
Names frequently appearing in the documents are Joseph Poppell, Janice Ann Coulter, Christopher Grey May, Sabra Maddox, Alan M. Jones, Carey B. Jones, Richard D. Griffis, Jr. and Richard D. Griffis, III.
The Opioid Industry Documents Archive (OIDA) received documents with redactions.
