Just three days after it started, a trial in Georgia accusing three distributors of oversupplying prescription opioid pills and recklessly causing public harm was shut down because of an outbreak of the COVID virus in the courtroom.
BRUNSWICK, GA (Legal Newsline) - Former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigator James Rafalski told a courtroom in Georgia that the in-house anti-drug diversion programs of opioid distributors were “fatally flawed” in that they failed to report suspicious orders.
BRUNSWICK, GA (Legal Newsline) - Trial began Tuesday in a case accusing opioid drug distributors McKesson and Cardinal Health of recklessly flooding the state with pills, and for the first time, private citizens are the plaintiffs instead of a state or local government.
CHARLESTON – Two days after a federal judge ruled in favor of opioid distributors in a bellwether case, discussions about missed settlement opportunities continue.
CHARLESTON – After more than 11 months, a federal judge has ruled in favor of three drug distribution companies, saying their actions did not cause the opioid epidemic in Huntington and Cabell County.
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Three weeks after closing arguments were postponed until July at the request of lawyers for defendants, three opioid drug producing companies accused of causing an epidemic agreed on May 3 to settle with Washington State for $518 million.
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - A former special agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who later worked for McKesson Corp. in its anti-drug diversion program, told a courtroom on Monday the system was thorough in checking to prevent drugs from getting into the wrong hands.
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - Attorneys defending three of the country’s biggest opioid drug distributors presented motions on Monday asking the King County Superior Court to dismiss a case alleging the companies caused an overdose epidemic in Washington State.
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - An abatement plan to deal with an opioid drug overdose crisis was discussed Tuesday in the King County Superior Court trial of three major drug distributors, and the possible impact of a settlement with native tribes.
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) - An addiction expert witness called by the State of Washington said that a massive over supply of opioid pills in the early 2000s is linked with heroin use and caused an overdose epidemic in the state.
Attorneys for the State of Washington and those defending three of the country’s biggest opioid pill distributors sparred this week over figures showing that drug ordering took a big jump around the year 2006.
CHARLESTON – The nation’s three largest drug distributors has filed a petition with the state Supreme Court questioning whether the state Mass Litigation Panel exceeded its authority by grouping more than 60 public nuisances opioid claims into one statewide complaint.
CHARLESTON – Attorneys for Cardinal Health and McKesson presented closing arguments in hope of convincing U.S. District Judge David Faber the distribution companies should not be held liable for any part in the opioid epidemic.
CHARLESTON – After a two-week break, plaintiff attorney Paul Farrell Jr. left no stone unturned as he presented the closing argument at the landmark federal opioid trial.
CHARLESTON – While a bipartisan group of state attorneys general have announced a tentative $26 billion settlement with four drug companies over their roles in the opioid epidemic, West Virginia will not be a part of the agreement.
CHARLESTON – During the last day of testimony in the landmark opioid trial, the defense’s argument shifted to Cabell County and the City of Huntington’s ability to effectively cover treatment programs through federal government grants and that the governments should be able to continue to do so.
CHARLESTON – An economist expert claims Cardinal Health had a due diligence system in place that was followed as designed, arguing earlier experts failed to note the system in place.
CHARLESTON – Tables turned as an expert witness for Cardinal Health had his professional reputation challenged during his testimony at the bellwether federal opioid trial.
CHARLESTON – As they began arguing their case, the three drug distributor defendants in the bellwether federal trial continued to rest blame on others for fueling the opioid epidemic.
