The Bitter Pill

Festival: Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF)
Genre: documentary
Main Characters: Cast and crew @ https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt31778053

Paul Farrell Jr
Self

The Plot: Attorney Paul Farrell Jr seeks justice against opioid pharmaceutical companies.

The main story lines are: Paul Farrell Jr risks his future and reputation by assembling a team of attorneys to go against the Big 3 within the pharmaceutical distribution industry.

The best (worst) bit is about: The court system is the best way to seek justice, rather than the use of violence says attorney Paul Farrell Jr. The battle against opioid pharmaceutical companies has been filed, due to the 400,000 deaths the drug has caused. In fact, 24 people overdosed in 3 hours within Farrell's hometown neighborhood. In Huntington, WV a Quick Response Team handles on average 3-5 overdoses per shift. Twenty percent of babies born are addicted to opioids in Cabell County. The documentary has a lot of statistical facts, which is helpful when following along. The mayor has created programs to help, while police say the state lacks funding that effects the local level. Paul says if we can control the distribution of this drug, then we can control the impact it makes. There is an illustration of distribution from manufacturer to pharmacy to doctor. Paul says Congress established the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 where distribution goes from manufacturer to wholesale distributor, rather than straight to pharmacy. Cardinal Health did not report suspicious orders the documentary reveals. Paul has declared an opioid public nuisance that is a hazard to public health and safety giving him authority to file a lawsuit against those who profited the most within the link of distribution. The Cabell County Commission approved the filing to go after the wholesaler distributor of opioid, such as AmerisourceBergen ($146B), Cardinal Health ($121B), and McKesson Corp ($198B). McKesson Corp says they do not see the patient, whereas other lawsuits are seen as more patient related. Paul Farrell Jr wants the data that goes into ARCOS database that shows it was not reported to the DEA. Paul Farrell Jr spent six months packaging a subpoena to get that data after the wholesale distributor would not provide it to him. Once the subpoena was filed and disclosed Paul Farrell Jr received phone calls from neighboring states prompting him to get additional case help with Amy Quezon (trial lawyer), Mike Fuller (lawyer with a vision), Peter Mougey (lawyer good with data/statistics), and Mike Papatonio (lawyer good with network/structure). Hundreds of counties helped. The attorneys listened to experts to determine the damages done and to be awarded. Manufacturers were seen as an initial link to knowledge with wholesale distributor. Thus, manufacturers (Purdue Pharma Inc, Johnson & Johnson Inc, Teva Pharmaceuticals) were included into the Multi District Litigation lawsuit, which merges 1800 cases into one. Congress opened an investigation into opioid distribution, which stated there are ~1000 opioid cases that go to the hospital a day with ~100 dying. Paul Farrell Jr's dad who is a judge says his son was a very good lawyer to now a national good lawyer. State attorney generals are going to file a similar lawsuit, which Paul Farrell Jr says is motivated to pursue higher political office by shutting down his MDL. Paul Farrell Jr has been working hard on this MDL for two and one-half years. Paul has filed a lawsuit, subpoena, phoned his senator, and approached a judge to release this governmental data. Eventually the ARCOS data is released to Paul and his team. Paul Farrell Jr had the data become data that is understandable to his team using graphs, charts, and abnormalities. For example, one town had 1700 residents but order up to 600,000 pills in one year, which should have triggered a suspicious order under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 for these defendants. The defendants labeled everything as confidential, and redacted to slow the process of discovery to not be known. Attorneys of Paul's team asked Cardinal Health questions to determine their position on each question asked. Paul participated, but said later that it was difficult as Cardinal Health did not want to "roll over." However, the team was making breakthroughs in the case by questioning more defendants in depositions and getting position answers that were making moves in the case. Paul is removed from negotiations to enable a national settlement. A judge called in AGs, and defendants for an $18B settlement. Paul desires trial, which Cabell County wants as well. Paul sells his home to live in a smaller place close to his parents, while investing some money into the opioid case. Meanwhile, Paul gets a bench trial, which is faster for a closure. Covid hits. State AGs are still pursuing their settlement, which Paul refuses to participate. No cameras were allowed in court. News footage supported the trial's outcome. Paul and his team await for an Opinion from the federal judge, which can take by years end or longer. The national settlement reaches $26B. Paul says his heart would be broken if his trial verdict comes to less than $100M. The verdict was for the defense. The case is being appealed.

I enjoyed (I didn't enjoy) watching this film because: The director, as well as, editor did a good job by placing certain sayings in the beginning and then coming up again later in the documentary. The audio was well in tune, while the cinematography kept me interested throughout the documentary. I did not like that Paul and his team lost considering his theory was well grounded in data.

I would (I wouldn't) recommend this film to someone because: I would recommend this film to somebody to understand what a plaintiff attorney does and hopefully be inspired to pursue law school and/or the legal profession.

4.5 out of 5 stars