opioid crisis News

Oklahoma Appeals Judge’s $465M Order in Opioid Lawsuit

A judge didn’t order Johnson & Johnson to pay enough when he said the company must pay $465 million to address Oklahoma’s opioid crisis, the state said in an appeal filed on Dec. 16. Attorney General Mike Hunter’s office argues …

Delaware Attorney General Loses Appeal Bid in Opioid Lawsuit

The state Supreme Court has refused a request by Delaware’s attorney general to review a judge’s decision dismissing Walgreens as a defendant in Delaware’s lawsuit against the drug industry over the opioid crisis. The court issued a ruling Wednesday saying …

Delaware Loses Bid for High Court Review of Opioid Suit Ruling

A judge who dismissed Walgreens as a defendant in Delaware’s lawsuit against the drug industry over the opioid crisis has denied the government’s request to certify an appeal to Delaware’s Supreme Court. Wednesday’s ruling follows the judge’s denial in September …

OxyContin Marketed in China as Being Less Addictive — A Familiar Misleading Claim

Thousands of lawsuits across the United States have accused a drug company owned by the billionaire Sackler family of using false claims to push highly addictive opioids on an unsuspecting nation, fueling the deadliest drug epidemic in U.S. history. Yet, …

Several States Have Doubts About $48 Billion Opioid Settlement Offer

Several U.S. states that have been ravaged by the opioid epidemic are pushing back on a proposed $48 billion settlement framework that would resolve thousands of lawsuits against five drug companies accused of fueling the addiction crisis. The proposal would …

After Avoiding Ohio Trial, Drug Firms Turn to Local Government Opioid Lawsuits

Four large drug companies could resume talks on Tuesday to try to reach a $48 billion settlement of all opioid litigation against them, after agreeing with two Ohio counties to a $260 million deal to avert the first federal trial …

Settling Opioid Suits Probably Won’t End the Crisis: Viewpoint

Imagine you’re the chief executive officer of a large pharmaceutical corporation with an important drug that’s under attack. More than 2,500 lawsuits have been filed against your company. The plaintiffs aren’t individuals, though, they’re governments — counties, cities and states. …

Actuaries Estimate Four Years of Opioid Crisis Cost Economy $631 Billion

The opioid epidemic cost the U.S. economy at least $631 billion from 2015 to 2018, according to a Society of Actuaries’ (SOA) analysis of non-medical opioid use during this timeframe. The SOA report, authored by Milliman, also projected future costs …

Court Denies Ohio’s Attempt to Stop Cleveland Opioid Trial

A federal appeals court has denied an effort led by Ohio’s attorney general to stop a bellwether trial over the opioid crisis from starting this month in Cleveland. The 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled on Oct. 10 that …

Massachusetts Lawsuit Against Purdue Pharma Over Opioid Crisis Will Move Forward

A judge has rejected a request by the billionaire owners of Purdue Pharma LP to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Massachusetts over their role in the state’s opioid crisis. The decision by Superior Court Judge Janet Sanders in Boston on …