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PERSONAL INJURY: Superior Court holds City of New Haven may not bring suit against drug manufacturers for social costs of drug addiction

The City of New Haven brought action against the defendant pharmaceutical companies to recoup money for the social costs of paying for addicts’ social and medical needs and indirect expenses caused by drug addicts, including extra emergency-responder expenses and other consequences from drug-related crimes.  The defendants moved to dismiss for lack of standing, arguing that the City failed to allege that the defendants directly caused the financial losses the City sought to recoup.  The Court held that while the cost to city of having drug addicts among its population is real, the cost is not quantifiable and not compensable and thus it granted the defendants’ motion to strike.  City of New Haven v. Purdue Pharma, L.P, et al., CV17-6086134; Jan. 8, 2019.