Pubdate: Fri, 19 Oct 2001
Source: Beckley Register-Herald (WV)
Copyright: 2001 The Register-Herald
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd86
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1441
Author: Joe Myers
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?186 (Oxycontin)

LAWSUIT FILED OVER OXYCONTIN DEATH

LEWISBURG - The husband of a Greenbrier County woman who died two years ago 
after taking the painkiller OxyContin has filed suit against the doctor who 
prescribed the drug and the drug's manufacturers

According to the lawsuit, Rebecca Ann Allen, 43, of Alderson, consulted 
Fairlea osteopath Debra Sams in 1998 for a painful back injury. Sams 
prescribed OxyContin.

Allen became addicted to the drug and eventually overdosed on it in October 
1999.

The lawsuit claims Sams was negligent for failing to warn Allen of the 
risks of OxyContin and failing to properly monitor her treatment.

The lawsuit also claims the manufacturers and marketing firms knew the drug 
could cause dangerous addiction yet withheld that information. The 
companies also provided false and misleading information about the drug, 
the lawsuit claims.

Companies named as defendants are Purdue Pharma L.P., The Purdue Frederick 
Co., Purdue Pharmaceuticals L.P., The P.F. Laboratories Inc., PRA Holdings 
Inc. and Abbott Laboratories. The companies are located in Delaware and New 
Jersey.

The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages for Allen's estate.

The lawsuit was filed Oct. 2 in Greenbrier County Circuit Court by the 
Charleston law firm of Hunt & Serreno. Allen's husband, Brian W. Allen, the 
administrator of her estate, is listed as the plaintiff.

Attorney Mark Hunt said his firm has "several hundred" other clients who 
are seeking damages from the use of OxyContin, and he hopes to combine all 
the claims in a class-action lawsuit. About 10 of the cases involve people 
who died from using the drug, he said.

"These lawsuits are aimed at the manufacturer," Hunt said. "We consider 
OxyContin to be a defective product. The manufacturer over-promoted the drug."

The firm has also filed a lawsuit in McDowell County, he said.

West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw has filed a class-action 
lawsuit in McDowell County Circuit Court to recoup state funds related to 
the use of OxyContin, he noted.

Sams did not return a phone call seeking comment.
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