McKool Smith and The Lanier Law Firm, representing relator Health Choice Alliance LLC, are working alongside Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly for bribing and illegally inducing medical providers to prescribe its most profitable drugs, including the high-demand GLP-1 medications Mounjaro and Zepbound that are used for weight loss and diabetes treatment.
The lawsuit alleges that Eli Lilly provided unlawful incentives to medical providers across Texas—such as “free nurses” and reimbursement support services—designed to steer providers toward prescribing its drugs. Many of these prescriptions were paid for by Texas Medicaid, resulting in millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded claims tainted by illegal marketing tactics and quid pro quo arrangements. These actions, according to the petition, violate the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act.
“This lawsuit is a critical step in ensuring that pharmaceutical companies are held accountable for their actions and that clinical judgements are not impaired by unlawful kickbacks,” said McKool Smith Principal Jennifer Truelove.
Along with Ms. Truelove, the McKool Smith team includes firm Principals Sam Baxter, Rick Halper, and Radu Lelutiu. Health Choice Alliance LLC is also represented by co-counsel from The Lanier Firm.
The case is Texas vs. Eli Lilly & Co Inc., case number not immediately available, in the 71st District Court of Harrison County, Texas.
With more than 130 trial lawyers across offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Marshall, New York, and Washington, D.C., McKool Smith has established a reputation as one of America’s leading trial firms. The firm has secured 18 nine-figure jury verdicts and 16 eight-figure jury verdicts, obtaining more VerdictSearch and The National Law Journal “Top 100 Verdicts” than any other law firm. McKool Smith represents clients in complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, bankruptcy, insurance recovery, and white-collar defense matters.