Judge Rules That Johnson & Johnson Fueled Opioid Crisis

(Associated Press) An Oklahoma judge on Monday found Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries helped fuel the states opioid crisis and ordered the consumer products giant to pay $572 million more than twice the amount another drug manufacturer agreed to pay in a settlement. Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkmans ruling followed the first state opioid case to make it to trial and could help shape negotiations over roughly 1500 similar lawsuits filed by state local and tribal governments consolidated before a federal judge in Ohio. The opioid crisis has ravaged the state of Oklahoma" Balkman said before announcing the judgment. It must be abated immediately." An attorney for the companies said they plan to appeal the ruling to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Before Oklahomas trial began May 28 the state reached settlements with two other defendant groups a $270 million deal with OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma and an $85 million settlement with Israeli-owned Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.