Babies hurt by their mother’s illegal drug use and parents who pay for a child’s drug rehabilitation could sue drug dealers under a bill passed Wednesday by the Senate.
If enacted into law, New Hampshire would join about 15 states that make it easier to hold drug dealers liable in civil courts. The House next considers the bill.
Municipalities, other agencies and employers also could sue dealers after they’ve been convicted of possession, manufacture or distribution of drugs.
The Drug Dealer Liability Act is model legislation intended as a deterrent, particularly to small-time dealers who own property. It’s also intended to encourage users to identify and seek payment for drug treatment from their dealers.
The New Hampshire version would restrict civil liability to dealers of cocaine, cocaine derivatives, heroin and ecstasy, said Sen. Robert Clegg, R-Hudson. When dealers are sued, they could in turn sue their sources which would disrupt distribution networks.
Under Michigan’s law, siblings of a drug addicted baby got a $1 million judgment and Detroit got an award of more than $7 million to help combat drug activity. A South Dakota jury awarded a woman whose husband was killed by a driver under the influence of methamphetamine a $268 million judgment against the dealer who supplied the drugs.
In Indiana, several families sued a doctor this summer who was convicted of illegally distributing OxyContin.
Critics in other states note that in spite of substantial awards, few have collected the money so the awards are largely symbolic.
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Senate passes bill opens door to suing drug dealers
By Anne Saunders
Associated Press
Portsmouth, NH, USA
Source
If enacted into law, New Hampshire would join about 15 states that make it easier to hold drug dealers liable in civil courts. The House next considers the bill.
Municipalities, other agencies and employers also could sue dealers after they’ve been convicted of possession, manufacture or distribution of drugs.
The Drug Dealer Liability Act is model legislation intended as a deterrent, particularly to small-time dealers who own property. It’s also intended to encourage users to identify and seek payment for drug treatment from their dealers.
The New Hampshire version would restrict civil liability to dealers of cocaine, cocaine derivatives, heroin and ecstasy, said Sen. Robert Clegg, R-Hudson. When dealers are sued, they could in turn sue their sources which would disrupt distribution networks.
Under Michigan’s law, siblings of a drug addicted baby got a $1 million judgment and Detroit got an award of more than $7 million to help combat drug activity. A South Dakota jury awarded a woman whose husband was killed by a driver under the influence of methamphetamine a $268 million judgment against the dealer who supplied the drugs.
In Indiana, several families sued a doctor this summer who was convicted of illegally distributing OxyContin.
Critics in other states note that in spite of substantial awards, few have collected the money so the awards are largely symbolic.
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Senate passes bill opens door to suing drug dealers
By Anne Saunders
Associated Press
Portsmouth, NH, USA
Source
