Popular Categories

Robins Kaplan LLP Represents California Tribes in Legal Battle Against Opioid Industry


LOS ANGELES, CA – National trial firm Robins Kaplan LLP® announced today that it has filed lawsuits on behalf of two American Indian Tribes from California against major manufacturers and distributors of opioids, alleging devastating public health effects on Tribal communities. The Torres- Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians and Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians have each sued 24 opioid industry defendants in the actions, which seek both damages and injunctive relief. With today’s development, Robins Kaplan has filed opioid lawsuits on behalf of 17 American Indian Tribes this year.

“The opioid epidemic has hit Indian Country hard and these two Tribes in California are no exception,” said Michael Geibelson, managing partner of the firm’s California offices and member of the opioid litigation team. The Robins Kaplan opioid litigation team is led by Tim Purdon, former United States Attorney for North Dakota and Brendan Johnson, former United States Attorney for South Dakota, who have long histories of working with American Indian Tribes across the country.

The complaints filed in federal court today accuse the defendants of allegedly marketing prescription opioids in a manner that fraudulently concealed and minimized their addiction risk, and failing to comply with federal prescription drug laws intended to prevent the diversion of prescription opioids and prevent their abuse. It seeks relief for the defendants’ alleged violation of federal RICO laws, deceptive trade practices, and fraudulent and negligent conduct.

The complaint notes that American Indians suffer the highest per capita rate of opioid overdoses and that the CDC reports that one in 10 American Indian youths age 12 or older used prescription opioids for non-medical purposes in 2012, double the rate for white youth.

“The lawsuits filed today by the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians and the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians mean that their voices will be added to the other 15 Tribal Nations we have filed suit for against opioid manufacturers and distributors. These 17 Tribal Sovereigns are ensuring that their voices are heard as the national opioid litigation moves forward,” added Geibelson.

To date, Robins Kaplan has filed opioid lawsuits on behalf of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (ND), the Oglala Sioux Tribe (SD), the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (SD), the Flandreau Santee Sioux (SD), the Sisseton- Wahpeton Oyate (SD), the Spirit Lake Nation (ND), the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (ND), the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (WI), the Nisqually Indian Tribe (WA), the Squaxin Island Tribe (WA), the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians (OR), the Prairie Island Indian Community (MN), the Lower Sioux Indian Community (MN), the Upper Sioux Indian Community (MN), and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (MN). These cases are all pending in the MDL in Ohio.

Johnson and Purdon serve as co-chairs of Robins Kaplan’s American Indian Law and Policy Group. Tara Sutton, chair of the firm’s Mass Tort Group and a member of its Executive Board, is also representing the plaintiffs.

Defendants in the case include pharmaceutical manufacturers Purdue Pharma L.P., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and Allergan PLC, and pharmaceutical distributors McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Corp. The complaint against them was filed directly in the National Multidistrict Litigation Opioid Litigation in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.