CA. Counties Seek $50B From Drug Makers in Opioid Addiction Trial

CA. Counties Seek $50B From Drug Makers in Opioid Addiction Trial

Introduction

A $50 billion trial is underway in California filed by CA. counties against opioid drug makers including Johnson & Johnson, Endo Pharmaceuticals, and other drug manufacturers to seek damages over the opioid crisis.

Due to the ongoing Covid- 19 pandemic, a virtual hearing started on April 19 in Orange County Superior Court for this $50 billion lawsuit brought by a number of communities in California. These communities seek the cost of damage associated with the opioid crisis that has caused 500,000 deaths nationwide. This is the second case to go before a jury trial. There are yet thousands of opioid lawsuits filed nationwide against drug makers, particularly by cities, states, and other municipalities. 

Allegations include that the drug manufacturers were involved in deceptive marketing for years without highlighting the addiction risks associated with opioids, and recklessly selling the powerful pain medications. Plaintiffs further allege failure to warn the medical community and patients of the opioid risks that led to massive loss of life and surmount pressure on the health care system to take corrective measures.

A case for the opioid crisis that began in 2014 was the first in history where local government entities sued Big Pharma for causing painkiller addiction. The case brought by Oklahoma in 2019 was the first to go for trial where Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $572 million in an opioid lawsuit. Later, the verdict was reduced to $465 million, for which the appeal is still pending.

Federal health officials warned that opioids account for nearly 70% of all drug overdoses. 3,100 deaths were accounted for due to opioid overdoses in 2013 and the number has surpassed 36,000 by 2019.

Defendants in the ongoing trial state that pharmaceutical companies distributed drugs after getting approval from FDA. Also, AmerisourceBergen Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., McKesson Corporation, and Johnson & Johnson have proposed a $26B settlement to resolve more than 3,300 opioid crisis lawsuits filed nationwide.