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A Public Health Emergency
The opioid epidemic began in the late 1990s after pharmaceutical companies lied to the medical community by claiming that patients couldn’t become addicted to opioid pain relievers. Healthcare providers immediately started prescribing opioids at increasing rates, leading to widespread misuse of both prescription and non-prescription drugs. By 2016, over 200,000 Americans had died from overdoses related to prescription opioids. This staggering statistic encouraged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to declare a public health emergency the following year.
Attorney General Ashley Moody Fights on Behalf of Floridians
Approximately 6,000 Floridians passed away from opioid overdoses in 2016. To combat this alarming epidemic, Attorney General Ashley Moody is endorsing legislation that would help her file lawsuits against negligent pharmacies and drug companies.
On April 29, 2019, the House unanimously approved House Bill 1253, a bill that will give Moody access to the Florida Department of Health’s prescription drug database. This database was originally developed to hinder “doctor shopping” by drug traffickers and abusers.
Moody hopes the database information will reinforce Florida’s lawsuit against those who are guilty of:
- Misrepresenting opioid products
- Filling suspicious drug orders
According to Scott Keeler of the Tampa Bay Time, “Moody wants access to the state’s prescription drug database to bolster Florida’s lawsuit against the nation’s largest drug makers, distributors and pharmacies, which the state reasonably accuses of recklessly supplying Floridians with drugs…Moody needs the database to show specific examples that Walgreens, along with its rival CVS, ‘raced to sell as many opioids as possible’ while failing to stop suspicious shipments of drugs.”
Unfortunately, this bill – as well as Senate Bill 1700, a Senate companion bill – has struggled to become law because many politicians are reluctant to stand against big corporations. In fact, many of the companies being sued are lobbying lawmakers to prevent these bills from passing. As Chief Deputy Attorney General John Guard told lawmakers, “The only ones opposing this bill are the ones being sued, specifically Walgreens.”
Senator Benacquisto Stalls Jeopardizes Florida’s Multi-Billion Lawsuit
SB 1700 has stalled in the committee of Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto, a Fort Myers Republican and the sister-in-law of a Walgreens lobbyist. Benacquisto claims that her decision is related to privacy concerns, not a conflict of interest. However, the bill itself counters this assumption: there are protections in place to prevent public disclosure, and Moody will only have access to a patient’s age, county, city, and ZIP code. Plus, this information could only be used in civil, criminal, or administrative lawsuits against pharmacies or dispensaries, not against victims of the epidemic.
The Benefits of House Bill 451
House Bill 451 is now headed to Governor Ron De Santis. If it’s approved, physicians will need to inform their patients of non-opioid alternatives before prescribing, ordering, dispensing, or administering opioid drugs. They also need to explain the advantages and disadvantages of non-opioid alternatives and provide patients with an educational pamphlet created by the Florida Department of Health. Of course, this policy does not apply in emergency situations or affect pharmacists who dispense opioids. If the Governor signs this bill, it will become effective on July 1, 2019.
Explore Your Legal Options with a Qualified Legal Professional
At The Ferraro Law Firm, we believe in holding negligent pharmacies and drug companies responsible for their actions. If you require legal representation, contact our firm to discuss your case with one of our experienced trial attorneys. Since our founding 30 years ago, we have helped our clients recover billions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. No matter the complexity of your case, you can trust our legal team to fiercely represent your interests both in and out of court.
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When individuals and families face the challenges of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure—coping with complex treatments, escalating costs, and emotional strain—they turn to Ferraro Law for clarity, guidance, and steadfast support. Through meticulous case preparation, empathetic counsel, and strategic representation, our attorneys build compelling cases that secure meaningful settlements to cover medical expenses, provide financial relief, and offer a path toward stability during difficult times.
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Working with Daniel J. Di Matteo, Attorney and Partner at The Ferraro Law Firm was and is a life-changing forever experience. He is committed to a level of professionalism and attention to detail that is at the 100th percentile. Daniel handled everything with calmness, sensitivity and support that I needed through this difficult time. He always protected me and had my best interests. I am completely satisfied with the results.
If you need an attorney that operates at the highest level, that attorney is Daniel J. Di Matteo.
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Ferraro Law is wonderful and I am forever grateful to them. My attorney Daniel Di Matteo fought like a tiger for me against a multibillion dollar corporation and obtained a substantial settlement for me. This settlement is life changing for me. If you need an attorney call Ferraro Law and if you’re lucky Daniel will take your case.
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Not too long ago I picked up the phone and called the Ferraro Law Firm not quite knowing what to expect. From the moment I reached out, the team made me feel heard and taken care of — not just like another case walking through the door.
Nikki Hurtado was my first primary contact. After speaking with her I knew that I had picked the right firm. She walked me through the process in plain understandable language. Even after numerous calls, she never made me feel like I was asking too many questions, and I always felt confident that my case was in expert hands.
My litigator was Daniel Di Matteo. If there was ever anyone that you would want by your side in a court of law, it would be him. He was everything that you would want in an attorney—calm, cool, always prepared, communicative and most importantly–experienced. He knew everything that was going to happen before it occurred but was prepared for any contingency. He is a fantastic attorney.
What really set them apart was their communication. I was kept informed at every stage — no chasing down updates, no wondering what was happening with my case. Calls and emails were returned promptly, and they proactively reached out whenever there was a development.
The professionalism of the entire team — from the attorneys to the support staff — was exceptional. Everyone I interacted with was kind, compassionate, and genuinely invested in my well-being, not just the outcome of my case.
And the outcome? Better than I could have hoped for. They fought hard on my behalf and secured a result that truly reflected the impact this injury had on my life.
You could ask for no better firm or attorney.
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