Thomas Grande Leads Class Action Against Drug Recycling Company
Appointed co-lead class counsel in landmark case protecting Hawaii nursing home residents from dangerous medication recycling practices.
Case Appointment
Thomas Grande has been appointed co-lead class counsel in Helbig v. Interstate Pharmacy Corporation, a class action filed on behalf of Hawaii nursing home residents who were sold recycled pills by a drug distribution company.
The case, which is pending in First Circuit Court on Oahu, represents approximately 4,500 persons, almost all of whom were elderly and infirm nursing home residents.
The Dangerous Scheme
The case alleges that the drug company was deceptive in reselling medication that had been returned for destruction from nursing home residents who had died or whose prescription had been changed.
This practice may have endangered the health and safety of the nursing home residents because the distributed medication may have been:
- •Expired — medications past their effective date
- •Contaminated — improper storage or handling conditions
- •Untraceable — the company did not keep records about which seniors got the used pills
Seeking Justice
The class action seeks a return of the monies paid by the nursing home residents and punitive damages for the company's egregious conduct.
"The actions of this company placed profits over patient safety. These drugs were recycled solely to make more money by selling the same pill twice. In addition, the drug company did not keep records about which seniors got the used pills."
Protecting Vulnerable Populations
This case demonstrates how fraud targeting vulnerable populations—particularly the elderly in nursing homes—can take many forms. While the False Claims Act specifically addresses fraud against the federal government, attorneys who specialize in healthcare fraud often handle related class actions and consumer protection cases.
If this drug recycling scheme involved Medicare or Medicaid funds—for example, if the government paid for medications that were supposed to be new but were actually recycled—it could potentially give rise to qui tam liability under the False Claims Act as well.
Do You Have Information About Healthcare Fraud?
If you work in the pharmaceutical industry, nursing homes, or healthcare and have witnessed fraud involving government healthcare programs, you may be entitled to a significant reward under the False Claims Act. Our experienced attorneys can evaluate your case confidentially.
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