Notice of Settlement in Class Action Lawsuit

In October, ABmunis received a letter from Napoli Shkolnik Canada and Freeman Litigation asking us to share a notice with our members about a class action lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies related to the opioid crisis. 

At first, we weren’t sure how to proceed. We had never received a letter like this before and wanted to ensure we were sharing accurate information. To clarify, we spoke directly with one of the lawyers involved in the case. 

Here’s what we learned, so you can better understand the notice too. 

What is the class action lawsuit about? 

Municipalities are suing several pharmaceutical companies involved in the marketing, promotion, distribution or sale of pharmaceutical opioid products in Canada. The lawsuit alleges that these companies made misrepresentations about opioid products, and seeks monetary damages for the costs municipalities incurred relating to opioid addiction. 

What does class mean in this lawsuit? 

The City of Grande Prairie and the Corporation of the City of Brantford are acting as representative plaintiffs on behalf of all municipalities and local governments in Canada. This means every municipality and local government in Canada is automatically a member of the class — unless they choose to opt-out. 

What is the notice about? 

The plaintiffs and Mylan Pharmaceuticals, one of the pharmaceutical companies named in the lawsuit, have reached a proposed settlement. As Mylan Pharmaceuticals is a minor player relative to other pharmaceutical companies named in the suit, the settlement is small and will be used towards legal costs as the suit against larger players continues. As part of this process, the court requires the plaintiffs’ legal counsel to notify all class members (any municipality and local government in Canada) in case they wish to opt-out of the settlement.  

What do you need to do as a municipality? 

If you have questions or concerns about the lawsuit or settlement or wish to opt-out, visit the Napoli Shkolnik Canada Mylan Settlement or contact the law firm directly at 1.888.531.0675.