Community Corner

Poll: Is Harding Pharmacy Lawsuit 'Ridiculous'?

Harding Pharmacy paying Saddle River man $1.9M after he overdosed on stolen drugs from the pharmacy in 2007 and later sued

A recent poll by the New Jersey Lawsuit Reform Alliance suggests voters overwhelmingly believe a lawsuit filed against  by a man that overdosed on stolen drugs at a party, is "ridiculous".

In Sept. of 2007, Scott Simon, then 17, of Saddle River, took Xanax provided to him by an ex-employee of Harding's, according to a Dec. report on northjersey.com. Simon claims he wound up suffering permanent nerve damage as a result of falling into a coma at the party, the article states.

As part of a settlement agreement, Harding Pharmacy will pay Simon $1.9 million. The homeowner of the party's host and participants at the party – who are alleged to have not called 911 after Simon fell into a coma – were sued by Simon, according to the article. Simon will receive a total of $4.1 million.

Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"In this case, the pharmacy was the victim - not the plaintiff, who made a decision to ingest stolen drugs,” said Marcus Rayner, NJLRA’s executive director. “Yet it is the pharmacy that is being denied justice by today's legal system and the drug user who is benefiting from it.”

This case underscores just how much our tort system has become out-of-step with common sense and fairness. Instead of investing in Ridgewood's local economy, Harding Pharmacy will be sending $1.9 million to the pocket of a man who made poor and illegal choices," he said. 

Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Many have said in discussion boards that the lawsuit demonstrates much of what's wrong with litigious America – there's a lack of personal responsibility and accountability coupled with sharking lawyers. Others have said businesses and people need to be more responsible in preventing such situations to transgress.

Let's hear what you have to say – is the lawsuit ridiculous?


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