Separate Federal Opioid Docket Sought for Lawsuits Filed on Behalf of Opioid-Dependent Infants

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Counsel representing the families of infants born addicted to opioids have asked the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to create a separate coordinated docket for pending and future class actions brought against makers of the drugs.

In a motion filed Sept. 20, plaintiffs contend that a new multidistrict litigation docket is necessary to protect the due process rights of opioid-dependent infants and to address “unique interests” they say are being ignored in the consolidated federal opioid docket, MDL 2804.

“It has become abundantly clear that MDL 2804 is not amendable to the issues affecting opioid-dependent infants, making …