Pace Pharmacy litigation continues over allegations of dangerous opioid dispensing

A wrongful death lawsuit connected to the ongoing Pace Pharmacy investigation continues to move forward in Florida state court as criminal proceedings tied to the alleged opioid distribution operation remain active.

The civil lawsuit was filed on behalf of Mary Ann “Ann” Strickland following the death of her husband, Andrew Strickland, a 47-year-old Escambia County engineer who died in June 2023 after being prescribed multiple controlled substances.

The lawsuit names Pace Pharmacy, owners Stephen and Monique Burklow, and former pharmacist David Winkles as defendants. The complaint alleges the pharmacy failed to exercise professional judgment while dispensing dangerous and excessive opioid medications connected to former Gulf Breeze physician Dr. Elaine Sharp.

According to the lawsuit, Andrew Strickland became a patient of Dr. Sharp after suffering severe burn injuries in a bonfire accident earlier in 2023. Prosecutors have accused Sharp of operating an alleged pill mill tied to excessive opioid prescribing and multiple overdose deaths across Northwest Florida.

The complaint alleges Strickland filled multiple prescriptions for controlled substances at Pace Pharmacy before he was found unresponsive at his home on Father’s Day in June 2023. The medical examiner later determined he died from the combined toxic effects of fentanyl, morphine, buprenorphine, diazepam, bromazepam, and gabapentin.

Levin Papantonio attorneys Rachael Gilmer and Brenton Goodman are representing the Strickland family in the litigation.

“This case is about greed, negligence, and a complete failure to protect human life,” Gilmer said. “Pharmacies have a legal and moral responsibility to recognize and stop dangerous opioid dispensing practices. Instead, this pharmacy allegedly operated in secret and continued providing massive amounts of opioid pills despite clear red flags that should have stopped these prescriptions long before this man lost his life. The family is devastated, and we are committed to exposing what happened and pursuing justice on their behalf.”

The civil case follows a years-long investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement into Pace Pharmacy and Dr. Sharp’s prescribing network.

In May 2025, FDLE arrested Stephen Burklow, Monique Burklow, and David Winkles on charges related to conspiracy to traffic controlled substances and racketeering. Investigators alleged the operation involved large quantities of oxycodone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, with some narcotics allegedly distributed through drive-thru windows, delivery drivers, and side entrances.

Court records also allege Stephen Burklow improperly used physicians’ identities and National Provider Identifier numbers to bill insurance companies for unauthorized prescriptions.

While some charges against Monique Burklow have since been dismissed, several criminal proceedings tied to the investigation remain ongoing.

The lawsuit further alleges that Pace Pharmacy continued to fill prescriptions associated with Dr. Sharp despite growing concerns about her prescribing practices and patient outcomes.

The case remains ongoing in the Florida state court.