Methadone doctor, clinic admit negligence in patient’s fatal car wreck
But the liability insurers for Dr.
Nevertheless, the families of the victims,
"Do they have cash in their pocket? No," said Sieff, of the Robins Kaplan firm in
The
Despite knowing she wasn't supposed to drive while taking methadone, Brigan injected the drug illicitly and tried to return home. Shortly before
Brigan was sentenced in 2014 to six years in jail.
The victims' families argued that Stroemer and clinic staff missed numerous signs, including needle marks on Brigan's arms, that she was abusing the medication and represented a risk to drive home while under its influence.
Their case received a boost last September when Stroemer, and not just his clinic, were named as defendants, and the judge allowed the families to pursue punitive monetary damages for their suffering.
Under terms of the settlement, the Lingren family will receive 75 percent of the money because Lingren left behind a wife and children.
Sieff said he is pursuing legal remedies to compel payment by the two insurers -- the
Specially designated methadone clinics have taken on increased in importance in
Some clinics have sustained disciplinary actions, though, for failing to assess and monitor patients before dispensing methadone, a synthetic drug that reduces cravings for opioids by occupying the same receptors in the brain that opioids target.
Sieff said he and his clients hope the public settlement will encourage safer prescribing practices statewide.
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