CHARLESTON — The grandparents of a child born addicted to opioids is suing Purdue Pharma and other drug manufacturers for the child's suffering after birth.
Purdue Pharma LP, Purdue Pharma Inc., The Purdue Frederick Company Inc., McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen Corporation, Endo Health Solutions, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Mallinckrodt PLC and Mallinckrodt Enterprises were all named as defendants in the suit.
Andrew G. Riling and Beverly Riling are the grandparents of A.P. Riling, who was born in 2007, according to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia at Charleston.
A.P. Riling was born addicted to opioids and her prenatal exposure caused her severe withdrawal symptoms and lasting developmental impacts, according to the suit.
Her grandparents claim A.P. Riling will continue to require years of treatment and counseling to deal with the effects of her prenatal exposure to opioids.
A.P. Riling's birth mother used a "strong prescription medication like oxycodone" and A.P. Riling suffered from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) after her birth, which caused her much pain after she was born and while she was weaned off of opioids, the complaint states.
A.P. Riling was born to Amanda Riling and Drew Riling, who were living with Beverly Riling and Andrew Riling prior to A.P. Riling's conception.
"In June of 2006 — most likely shortly after A.P.’s conception, although she did not have prenatal care so prenatal records cannot confirm her gestational age — Amanda Riling left Beverly and Andrew Riling’s home, leaving her husband Drew, and also leaving her two boys, A.P.’s older brothers,in the care of her husband and his parents," the complaint states.
Amanda Riling then returned to abusing prescription drugs while pregnant with A.P. Riling, according to the suit.
The plaintiffs claim the defendants caused A.P. Riling's injuries due to the number of opioids shipped into West Virginia.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are represented by Alex McLaughlin, W. Stuart Calwell Jr., L. Dante diTrapano, and Benjamin D. Adams of The Calwell Practice; Timothy P. Lupardus of Lupardus Law Office; P. Rodney Jackson of The Law Offices of P. Rodney Jackson; and R. Booth Goodwin II of Goodwin & Goodwin.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia Case number: 2:18-cv-01390