South Carolina Joins Growing List of States to Sue Opioid Distributors

The South Carolina Attorney General’s office has filed a lawsuit against major opioid distribution companies, claiming the businesses are partially responsible for the opioid crisis.

News outlets report Attorney General Alan Wilson filed the lawsuit last week against Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, three major pharmaceutical shipping companies, in response to the severe increase in overdoses and deaths in South Carolina.

Wilson claims the companies violated the Unfair Trade Practices Act and were public nuisances. The lawsuit claims the companies failed to report massive and suspicious orders and failed to review new customers.

Wilson says the companies should’ve known the pills they were distributing weren’t being used for legitimate purposes.

The lawsuit is in the discovery phase and is scheduled for a March 2020 trial.

Reports don’t include comments from the companies.