Pubdate: Wed, 28 Dec 2005
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2005 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.oklahoman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Author: Chad Previch
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

WIDOW OF SLAIN TROOPER SUES MAKERS, SELLERS OF METH INGREDIENT

WALTERS - The widow of a slain trooper filed a wrongful-death lawsuit
Tuesday against those who make and/or sell pseudoephedrine. Linda
Green claims in the Cotton County lawsuit that drug companies and
suppliers -- including Pfizer, Wal-Mart, Walgreen, Dollar General and
United Supermarkets -- knew methamphetamine addicts were buying the
drug to get high and not to treat a cold.

She also charges makers knew how to make the pseudoephedrine tablets
without allowing drug addicts to extract the ingredients needed to
make methamphetamine.

"The reason for filing this suit is to hold those people accountable
for what they've done, not just to Nik Green and his family (but for)
every other person in the United States who's been impacted," said
Gary James, an Oklahoma City attorney representing Linda Green.

The suit also names Ricky Ray Malone, who was convicted of murdering
Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Nikky Joe Green. Malone was high on
methamphetamine during the December 2003 shooting. A mobile
methamphetamine lab was found in Malone's car.

A spokesman for Walgreen said the company doesn't comment on pending
litigation. A message to Pfizer was not returned. Dan Fogleman, a
Wal-Mart spokesman, said the company implemented a voluntary sales
limitation policy in February 1997 of over-the-counter cold products.

"Wal-Mart supports efforts to curb the problem of methamphetamine," he
said. "This is an issue that affects the country, and we want to do
our part to help."

Linda Green declined to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday.

Also named as defendants in the suit are Leiner Health Products, LNK
International, Perrigo, Chain Drug Marketing Association, Good
Neighbor Pharmacy and R&S Drug Stores

James said the stores were named because Malone purchased cold
medications there. The suit states companies enjoyed increases in cold
medication sales at the same time methamphetamine became popular.

"However, instead of taking responsible steps to stop or alleviate the
individual and societal damage caused by the illegal use of their
products, the Product Dealers chose to increase production and sales
to exploit profits created by the skewed demand for pseudoephedrine,"
the suit states.

James said the companies have made up to $60 billion in cold
medication sales.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin