At Ferraro Law, we understand how the opioid epidemic has devastated local communities, as well as state and local governments, and individuals across the country. Unchecked prescription opioids have led to mass addiction, skyrocketing healthcare costs, and a ripple effect of social and economic harm. Our legal team is committed to bringing accountability to pharmaceutical companies, distributors, and others who perpetuated the opioid crisis through questionable marketing, suspicious orders, and unfair trade practices. Whether you represent a municipality seeking recompense for taxpayer expenditures or an organization examining the impact of rising costs, Ferraro Law offers insight into the legal strategies used in opioid litigation.
Understanding the Opioid Epidemic & Its Major Players
Understanding the Opioid Epidemic & Its Major Players
The Rise of Prescription Opioids
Over the past two decades, opioids—originally intended for patients with acute or end-of-life pain—have become overprescribed for broader conditions. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, such as Purdue Pharma, allegedly downplayed the drugs’ addictive nature, thereby fueling the opioid epidemic. Meanwhile, three major pharmaceutical distributors, including Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen, are accused of ignoring red flags and shipping enormous quantities of narcotics without exercising due diligence.
Widespread Community Impact
Local Governments
In many areas, local governments bear the burden of surging emergency response costs, spike in foster care placements, and expanded addiction treatment services.
State & Municipal Expenditures
State and local governments spend billions on law enforcement, healthcare interventions, and social services addressing addiction’s fallout.
Tens of Thousands Affected
Families nationwide have lost loved ones to opioid overdoses, while communities grapple with surging homelessness, joblessness, and child welfare crises.
As a result, lawsuits have emerged seeking to hold distributors, pharmaceutical firms, and affiliated players accountable for the devastation brought on by promoting opioids without proper regard for public safety.
40 Years Of Fierce Representation
40 Years Of Fierce Representation
At Ferraro Law, we have decades of experience handling complex, high-stakes litigation on behalf of public entities, corporations, and individuals. Our past work has included involvement in opioid-related litigation, where we contributed to legal strategies aimed at holding pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors accountable for their role in the crisis.
Today, our firm continues to litigate large-scale cases involving intricate regulatory issues, corporate misconduct, and public health concerns. Whether navigating multi-district litigation, coordinating with co-counsel across jurisdictions, or building the evidentiary foundation for mass claims, we bring strategic insight and a commitment to advancing impactful outcomes through the legal system.
How We Have Helped
How We hAVE HelpED
Assessment & Consultation
Ferraro Law has worked with municipalities and organizations to assess the financial and societal toll of the opioid crisis. We evaluated opioid-related expenditures—including increased healthcare and rehabilitation costs, child welfare burdens, and emergency response strain—and reviewed applicable settlement frameworks or litigation paths available at the time.
Tailored Legal Strategies
Each opioid matter required a distinct approach. Some focused on deceptive marketing and consumer fraud, while others pursued public nuisance or negligence claims against major distributors. Our team analyzed internal records, shipment data, and regulatory gaps to help build a clear picture of how mass oversupply and misleading practices harmed our clients’ communities.
Ongoing Support & Communication
Throughout the litigation process, we maintained consistent communication with co-counsel, defendants, and government entities involved in large-scale opioid cases. Ferraro Law aimed to keep clients informed as new settlements emerged and court proceedings advanced—allowing them to stay focused on community needs while we addressed the legal complexities.
Continued Commitment
While we are no longer accepting new opioid-related cases, our work in this area reflects a larger mission: holding powerful entities accountable through complex litigation. We continue to represent clients in matters involving corporate misconduct, product liability, and systemic public harm.
What We Have Handled
What We Have Handled
Ferraro Law has previously represented a range of clients affected by the opioid epidemic, from public entities to private organizations and families. Our work focused on seeking accountability from those responsible for driving addiction, overdose, and financial strain across communities.
Local Governments & Subdivisions
We worked with cities, counties, and municipalities to pursue claims related to the overwhelming costs of social services, emergency response, and healthcare brought on by the opioid crisis. Our legal efforts aimed to help communities recover funds and push for corporate accountability at the highest levels.
Unions & Private Organizations
Our team assisted unions, healthcare funds, and other organizations facing significant expenses related to addiction treatment and long-term care. By addressing the root causes and corporate actors behind the epidemic, we sought financial recovery to help stabilize member resources.
Families & Individuals
Ferraro Law represented families who lost loved ones to overdose and individuals impacted by opioid-related harm. We helped plaintiffs pursue wrongful death and personal injury in cases stemming from deceptive marketing, overprescription, and distribution failures.
Opioid Litigation: Compensation for Plaintiffs
Opioid Litigation: Compensation
for Plaintiffs
A successful opioid litigation claim provided essential financial support to help communities and organizations recover from the long-term impact of the opioid epidemic.
Compensation covered:
Reimbursement & Financial Relief
Lawsuits aimed to recoup the excessive expenditures by your city, state, or county. Settlement or verdict proceeds helped fund addiction treatment, expand law enforcement efforts, and support community services.
Structural Reforms in Distribution
Some settlement or verdict terms required distributors and pharmacies to improve suspicious orders monitoring, reduce pill diversion, and strengthen compliance oversight. This helped foster safer prescription practices going forward.
While no legal action could fully compensate for the loss of a loved one, individuals or families who suffered such a loss pursued wrongful death damages. These claims held producers or distributors accountable for disregarding known risks and contributing to the crisis that took a precious life.
Enforcement & Accountability
Independent monitoring or court-ordered compliance forced the implementation of trackers for opioid products, data reporting, or other mechanisms that hamper future abuses, preventing another wave of addiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
01.
Is Ferraro Law currently taking opioid litigation cases against pharmaceutical companies?
No, Ferraro Law is not handling opioid litigation cases against pharmaceutical manufacturers or distributors at this time. If you believe you may have a claim, consider contacting a law firm that is actively involved in these cases to explore your legal options.
02.
What role do distributors play in the opioid crisis?
Distributors, such as Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen, are accused of ignoring red flags and shipping excessive quantities of opioids to pharmacies and pill mills, thereby fueling widespread addiction.
03.
How do opioid settlements benefit communities?
Settlement funds can reimburse communities for addiction-related expenditures, such as healthcare, law enforcement, and social services. They can also support addiction treatment programs and enforce reforms in opioid distribution practices.
04.
What structural reforms can result from opioid litigation?
Structural reforms may include improved monitoring of suspicious orders, stricter compliance regulations for distributors, and more accurate labeling and marketing of opioid risks to prevent future harm.
05.
What is the difference between public nuisance claims and consumer fraud claims in opioid litigation?
Public nuisance claims address the widespread harm caused by opioid over-distribution and addiction, whereas consumer fraud claims focus on deceptive marketing practices by pharmaceutical companies that misrepresented the risks of opioids.
06.
What happens if a manufacturer declares bankruptcy during litigation?
When manufacturers like Purdue Pharma file for bankruptcy, the cases often move to bankruptcy court, where claims are addressed through structured settlements or reorganization plans. This process allows plaintiffs to have a chance to recover compensation.
have more questions?
glossary of key terms
glossary of key terms
Opioid Crisis
The rampant overprescription and abuse of prescription opioids, leading to mass addiction, overdose, and public health crises nationwide.
Purdue Pharma
A major opioid manufacturer, often cited for fueling the epidemic with its flagship product, OxyContin.
Suspicious Orders
Unusually large or frequent narcotic shipments that distributors are supposed to flag or halt, which are central to many lawsuits.
Settlements
Monetary and injunctive relief obtained through negotiated agreements with pharmaceutical companies or distributors to resolve opioid claims.
Public Nuisance
A legal doctrine used by municipalities alleging that opioid misrepresentation or over-distribution caused widespread harm to the public.
Bankruptcy Court
A court where some opioid manufacturers, like Purdue Pharma, filed for protection, overseeing how claims are addressed and funds are allocated.
Distributors
Entities like Cardinal Health or AmerisourceBergen that supply pharmacies and hospitals with medications, are alleged to have ignored red flags about pill mill activities.
Understanding What’s Next
Understanding What’s Next
If your municipality, organization, or family has been impacted by the opioid epidemic, you are part of a broader movement that sought justice for the widespread harm caused by pharmaceutical misconduct. While Ferraro Law is not currently handling new opioid litigation, our past work reflects a strong commitment to confronting corporate actors whose actions contributed to the crisis. The opioid epidemic continues to have long-term effects on communities nationwide, and the pursuit of accountability remains an important chapter in public health and legal history.
