Drug wholesaler owned by former Ann Arbor school board member sues U.S. over suspension
A Michigan-based wholesaler of powerful painkillers has filed a lawsuit to stop the government from suspending its license to handle controlled substances.
The Harvard Drug Group, which is co-owned by former Ann Arbor school board member Randy Friedman, turned to federal court in Detroit on Wednesday, a day after the Drug Enforcement Administration announced the suspension.
The DEA says Livonia-based Harvard Drug should have known some customers in Florida were trafficking in painkillers, such as oxycodone. The company supplies doctors and pharmacies.
In response, Harvard Drug says it regularly reports suspicious orders to the DEA and has canceled accounts with customers it doesn't trust. The company says the government is violating its due process rights.
DEA spokesman Rich Isaacson declined to comment.
Friedman served on the Ann Arbor school board from 2002 until April, when he resigned for personal reasons. His children go to Detroit Country day school, and he previously bought a house in Birmingham.
Comments
djm12652
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 11:56 a.m.
@Chai...dragging anyone's minor children into a story is to sensationalize it at the very least...I'm not defending anyone other than the children and the exploitation of them in the article. What school MINOR children attend has absolutely nothing to do with this guy's beef with the DEA. But then again, fodder for potential pedophiles...I'm surprised the writer didn't print the ages and school schedule as well...oh wait you say? That would not be pertinent to the article??? My point exactly.
lexnex
Fri, Jun 18, 2010 : 12:43 p.m.
The last sentence of the story is superfluous. How Mr. Friedman served the Ann Arbor community is logically connected to the story. Where his children attend school is not.
L'chaim
Thu, Jun 17, 2010 : 2:48 p.m.
The only reason this minor Michigan business story is interesting to Annarborites is the personality of former BOE man Friedman; otherwise, it's irrelevant and wouldn't have been printed.. He was controversial for the two reasons noted in the article, which are synonymous with his name. IT's not so very 'tabloidy' to i.d. him that way, I don't think, although he and his defenders may think so.
djm12652
Thu, Jun 17, 2010 : 2:13 p.m.
@Robert M...what exactly does your comment have to do with Harvard Drugs, the DEA? The article states current events concerning a Michigan business but then throws in personal information totally unrelated to the crux of the matter reported on.
djm12652
Thu, Jun 17, 2010 : 1:28 p.m.
Thanks Ed but this "backstory" has nothing to do with Harvard Drugs, the DEA, and/or Federal Court actions. Again, why would you bring his and Mrs. Friedman's children into this story? Are the kids involved in the wholesale distribution of painkillers? Please clarify the author and/or editor's justification in linking minor children to the DEA.
djm12652
Thu, Jun 17, 2010 : 1:05 p.m.
"Friedman served on the Ann Arbor school board from 2002 until April, when he resigned for personal reasons. His children go to Detroit Country day school, and he previously bought a house in Birmingham" What in the world does this have to do with the headline? Why would any responsible journalist bring in the subject's of a story children? Shame on you for tabloid writing.