Politics & Government

Oakland County Recovers $362,018 in Class Action Lawsuit

Lawsuit said drug wholesaler McKesson conspired to inflate the price of more than 400 prescription drugs.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced Wednesday that the county has recovered $362,018.02 from a large drug wholesaler that conspired to inflate the price of prescription drugs.

A class-action lawsuit against drug wholesaler McKesson and publisher of drug data First Data Bank said they wrongfully inflated the mark-up factor that determines the average wholesale price of prescription drugs, according to a press release from the county.

Oakland County was one of several municipalities to overpay on more than 400 brand name prescription drugs between 2001 and 2006, the release states.

Patterson said in the release that the county’s Corporation Counsel, Human Resources Department and outside counsel, Sommers Schwartz, did an "outstanding job" in determining the damages against the county and recovering the money.

"Oakland County has a reputation for fiscal excellence because we always fight for the best interest of our taxpayers," he said.

Oakland County was one of 1,128 valid claimants against McKesson and First Data Bank, which paid $82 million into a fund for distribution to claimants as part of the class-action settlement. The average payment was $55,746.90.

You can find more information about the lawsuit here.


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