B.C. Amends Opioid Legislation For Lawsuit

The Province is introducing amendments that would allow the federal government to join a B.C.-led class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, allowing for more defendants.

The Province is introducing amendments that would allow the federal government to join a B.C.-led class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, allowing for more defendants.

Amendments to the Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act will enable the governments of British Columbia and Canada to pursue recovery from opioid manufacturers, wholesalers and other potential defendants in a class-action lawsuit that is in progress.

The amendments ensure directors and officers of corporate defendants may also be held accountable.

B.C. commenced the lawsuit on behalf of provincial and territorial governments in Canada in 2018.

Its aim is for governments to recover costs for health care provided to patients that resulted from wrongful conduct of opioid manufacturers, distributors and their consultants.

The province has already settled with one of the defendants.