Posted at 9:09 a.m., Thursday, September 18, 2003
Judge allows claims against drug firm to proceed
Associated Press
A class-action suit claiming national drug distribution firm AmerisourceBergen sold recycled drugs to Hawai'i residents can proceed, a Honolulu Circuit Court judge ruled yesterday.Judge Eden E. Hifo’s decision allows thousands of Hawai'i consumers to proceed with their lawsuit, according to Thomas Grande, an attorney for the plaintiffs.
"This is a banner day for Hawai'i’s elderly and for other Hawai'i consumers who are unable to advocate for themselves," said Grande. "This is a class of particularly vulnerable individuals who need medications and most of whom are elderly and infirm."
The suit claims IPC Pharmacy, AmerisourceBergen’s local office, accepted unused pills from nursing homes and then placed them in bulk container bottles or relabeled them.
Rick Eichor, another attorney for the plaintiffs, said he believes 3,000 to 4,000 consumers could be eligible to join the suit.
Attorneys for Pennsylvania-based AmerisourceBergen could not be reached for comment.
