Opioid Settlements & Purdue Pharmaceutical Litigation
Cincinnati, Ohio drug injury lawyer and pharmaceutical attorney reviewing current opioid settlements and the Purdue Pharma negotiations
A judge in Oklahoma ruled against Johnson & Johnson in a huge blow to the company, ordering J&J to pay the state $572 million. The court ruled that the pharmaceutical company helped fuel the opioid crisis in the United States for many years.
The opioid epidemic has been at the center of many public health discussions for much of the last decade, as thousands of Americans succumb to addiction and prescription-related deaths. Attorneys in Oklahoma asked for $17 billion in damages, though walked away with a huge amount, with several more cases to follow in other states against J&J and other opioid manufacturers.
J&J has denied wrongdoing, and is expected to appeal the decision. A subsidiary of the company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals was also named as a defendant, contributing to the opioid addiction crisis. Other drug giants chose to settle with the state, including Purdue Pharma, the producer of OxyContin, which settled for $270 million in March. A judge also approved an $85 million settlement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Cincinnati, Ohio drug injury attorney representing clients nationwide in pharmaceutical lawsuits.
Opioid Settlements Follow Addiction Deaths
State officials claim the opioid epidemic caused more than 6,000 fatalities in Oklahoma alone, a hard-hit state for many years. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 70,000 people died of drug overdose in 2017, with the majority involving prescription opioids.
Experts alleged J&J and other drug companies played a large role in the overdose deaths. A federal judge in Ohio will soon rule on nearly 2,000 separate cases combined, that also accuse pharmaceutical companies of fueling the opioid epidemic. Opioid distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen are also named in several lawsuits spread across 35 states.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury involving an opioid overdose, and have questions about the legal remedies available to improve quality of life and medical care, contact The Lyon Firm at (800) 513-2403. You will speak directly with Mr. Lyon, an Ohio opioid attorney, and he will help you answer these critical questions.