Alabama takes it to Big Pharma

Not sure how long this link will remain active, but here's a great story on the state of Alabama going after the drug companies for the money they swindled out of the state: Jere Beasley aims at billion-plus in settlements with drug makers

He's won some great cases and now the state is offering the drug pushers a one-time only opportunity to settle.

Here's the first couple of paragraphs:

"Having won multi-million-dollar awards against three large drug manufacturers, the state of Alabama is now offering 67 other pharmaceutical companies the opportunity to settle out of court and save the companies millions of dollars. At the same time, the state could add more than $1 billion to its bottom line and markedly improve funding for Medicaid which serves the poor, the elderly, children and the disabled in Alabama.

"Lead attorney Jere Beasley of Montgomery says that Attorney General Troy King has sent letters to the remaining drug companies, giving them 30 days to settle all claims or face trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court. "After 30 days, we ain't going to negotiate with any of them," Beasley said."

This guy should be applauded and the rest of the states should get in line and do the same -- only then might the drug pushers begin to realize that they can't push drugs the way they have been.