Minister’s Statement On Opioid Litigation Certification

The BC Supreme Court has certified the Province’s class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors.

Attorney General Niki Sharma said in a statement yesterday the goal of the lawsuit is clear: “to recover the health-care costs of treating opioid-related harms and to hold manufacturers and distributors accountable for their role in allegedly using deceptive marketing practices to drive sales, contributing to addiction and overdose rates in the country.”

Sharma says the Supreme Court’s decision to certify marks a significant milestone in their fight against opioid manufacturers and distributors.

She says B.C. can now proceed, on behalf of federal, provincial and territorial governments, to recover the costs of treating opioid-related diseases “that were allegedly caused by the industry’s wrongful conduct.”

“This decision reaffirms our commitment to holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the opioid crisis, which was declared as a public health emergency in 2016 and has devastated many lives and families,” she said.

To see the full statement, visit Government of British Columbia.