opioid crisis News

6 States Had Not Joined $26B Opioid Settlements with Distributors, J&J at Deadline

At least six U.S. states, including Georgia, have decided they will not fully sign on to a proposed $26 billion settlement with three drug distributors and Johnson & Johnson, which have been accused of fueling the nation’s opioid epidemic, according …

Economist: $2.5B to Abate Opioid Crisis in WVa Community

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — A 15-year plan to abate the opioid crisis in a West Virginia community will cost local officials $2.5 billion, a forensic economist has testified. George Barrett testified Tuesday that Cabell County and the city of Huntington …

Democrats Push Bill Aimed at Family That Owns Purdue Pharma

A congressional committee heard grievances Tuesday against the owners of OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma as it considered longshot legislation that would keep them from using a corporate bankruptcy as a shield for personal liability. Rep. Carolyn Maloney called two state …

With $2,300 Phone Calls, Purdue Runs Up Huge Bankruptcy Tab

One phone call with the Department of Justice: $2,300. Two days at the Ritz-Carlton: $830. Oh, and a lengthy cab ride to and from the court in White Plains, New York — that’ll be $1,000. Those are just some of …

U.S. Sues Walmart Saying Pharmacies Fueled Opioid Crisis

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department sued Walmart Inc on Tuesday, accusing the world’s biggest retailer of fueling the opioid crisis in the United States, ignoring warning signs from its pharmacists and filling thousands of invalid prescriptions. In a civil …

U.S. Pursues Nearly $13 Billion of Claims in Purdue Pharma Opioid Probes-Sources

U.S. prosecutors are pursuing possible penalties of nearly $13 billion to resolve investigations of OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma after uncovering evidence of criminal and civil misconduct stemming from the company’s alleged role in fueling the nation’s opioid crisis, people familiar …

Lawyers Seek to Halt Purdue Pharma Political Contributions

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma should not be able to make any more political contributions without a judge’s permission, lawyers for its creditors said in a court filing. The issue came up this week after it was reported that the company, …

Billionaire Sacklers Don’t Deserve Bankruptcy Shield, States Say

Two dozen U.S. states urged a bankruptcy judge to let them revive their stalled lawsuits against the billionaire owners of Purdue Pharma LP, saying keeping the opioid litigation on ice sends a message that wealthy people can escape justice. The …

Opioid Companies Say Lawyers’ Fee Demand Threatens Settlement Talks

Johnson & Johnson and other drug companies facing thousands of lawsuits over their role in the opioid epidemic have warned that settlement talks will be “severely” jeopardized if plaintiffs’ lawyers are allowed to assess a fee payment worth billions of …

Sacklers Withdrew $10 Billion Out of Purdue, Report Finds

Opponents of the Sackler family’s offer to settle opioid lawsuits against Purdue Pharma LP for about $10 billion say a new report showing the clan withdrew more than that out of the drugmaker over the last decade confirms their reasons …