Drug Company Called Out for False Moral High Ground
BATON ROUGE, LA - Attorney General Jeff Landry has joined a
15-state coalition condemning the actions of Alvogen, a drug company preventing
the execution of a twice-convicted murderer in Nevada.
“Alvogen is a drug manufacturer and distributor responsible
for dispensing prescription opioids like candy while profiting off the epidemic
their carelessness has created; an epidemic currently crippling our communities
and killing thousands of our citizens,” said General Landry. “I am appalled by
Alvogen and their false moral high ground.”
“Alvogen has stood between victims’ families and justice by
lodging a moral objection to the will of citizens, as expressed in state law,”
continued General Landry. “No family should be deprived of their hard-won
justice and closure because of the hypocritical actions of this drug peddler.”
This statement comes as General Landry continues to fight for
the rights of victims and their families with regard to capital punishment. His
fight has been met with objection from Governor John Bel Edwards who
volunteered to have a federal court judge extend a stay of executions to avoid
carrying out State law.
After filing suit to stop an execution in Nevada, a state
court judge ruled in favor of Alvogen saying Nevada could not use Midazolam to
carry out an execution. Nevada then filed an emergency appeal with the Nevada
State Supreme Court (State
of Nevada v. Eighth Judicial District Court, et.al.) prompting General
Landry and other Attorneys General to sign on.
This case is similar to a case filed in Arkansas last year by
McKesson Medical-Surgical to prevent its drugs from being used in executions.
In that case, McKesson was initially successful in getting a temporary
restraining order from a judge who was later disqualified from hearing any
execution-related cases due to his bias. The Arkansas Supreme Court ultimately
dissolved the injunction and 4 executions took place in April 2017.
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