National Prescription Opioid Litigation News

Bankruptcy Judge Grants Purdue Pharma Time Out from Government Opioid Litigation

Purdue Pharma LP and its billionaire owners won a temporary reprieve from nearly 2,700 opioid lawsuits, giving the bankrupt drugmaker time to clinch a deal that would atone for its role in America’s addiction epidemic. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert D. …

Court Allows Judge Opposed by Drug Firms to Oversee Nationwide Opioid Trial

A federal appeals court on Thursday cleared the way for a landmark trial over the nation’s opioid crisis, rejecting a bid by eight drug retailers and distributors to disqualify the judge, and a request by Ohio and other U.S. states …

City of Vancouver Files Lawsuit Against Major Opioid Producers, Suppliers

The city of Vancouver has filed a lawsuit against major opioid producers and suppliers, joining a long list of cities seeking restitution for the drug’s impact on their communities. The Columbian reports the lawsuit filed this week in U.S. District …

Opioid Trial Judge, Overseeing 2,000 Lawsuits, Denies Bias, Refuses to Step Down

The Cleveland judge overseeing more than 2,000 federal lawsuits over alleged opioid abuses refused to disqualify himself from a bellwether trial set to start next month, rejecting a request by drug distributors and pharmacies who say he is biased against …

Pharmacies, Distributors Say Opioid Case Judge Biased, Seek Removal

AmerisourceBergen Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., CVS Health Corp. units and other prescription drug distributors and pharmacies moved to bounce Cleveland federal judge Dan Polster from the massive opioid liability case he’s overseeing, claiming he’s likely biased against them. The Saturday …

States Split Over Purdue’s $12 Billion Opioid Epidemic Settlement Plan

Purdue Pharma LP, maker of the highly addictive Oxycontin painkiller, is pitting state against state with its offer of about $12 billion to resolve the company’s liability for the massive public-health crisis tied to opioid abuse that’s swept the U.S. …

Drug Firms Must Face Trial Over Opioids, Judge Orders

A U.S. judge on Tuesday rejected efforts by major drugmakers, pharmacies and distributors to dismiss claims that they caused the nation’s opioid crisis, clearing the way for a scheduled landmark trial even as he pushes for a nationwide settlement. U.S. …

Purdue Pharma Floats $10-$12 Billion Opioid Settlement: Reuters

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP and its owners, the Sackler family, are in discussion to settle more than 2,000 opioid lawsuits against the company for $10 billion to $12 billion, two people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. Purdue …

Other Opioid Lawsuit Plaintiffs Welcome Oklahoma Ruling Affirming Public Nuisance

While some Johnson & Johnson investors were relieved that the company’s $572 million penalty for fueling Oklahoma’s opioid epidemic wasn’t as high as feared, lawyers for other U.S. states, cities and counties could hardly contain their glee. That’s because the …

Government Data Shows How Opioid Epidemic Spread Across America

Newly released federal data shows how drugmakers and distributors increased shipments of opioid painkillers across the U.S. as the nation’s addiction crisis accelerated from 2006 to 2012. The data, released this week by a federal court in Ohio as part …