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All around the country, plaintiffs are coming forward to bring lawsuits against major opioid manufacturers and distributors, after these companies spurred the opioid epidemic. With over 400,000 opioid-related overdose deaths between 1999 and 2017, the crisis shows no signs of stopping – and consumers are increasingly looking to hold companies like Johnson & Johnson accountable for their actions.
In advance of a major federal opioid trial scheduled for October 21st, the personal care giant paid out $20.4 million in a groundbreaking settlement to two Ohio counties, Cuyahoga and Summit. $10 million of the settlement will go directly to helping these counties deal with the devastation wreaked on their citizens, with another $5 million to reimburse their legal expenses and $5.4 million going to non-profits that run opioid use programs.
When Counties and Cities Sue for Damages
The opioid crisis has touched almost every area of the United States, with millions of people suffering as a direct result of pharmaceutical negligence and false advertising practices during the mid-2000’s. By marketing addictive opioids like OxyContin as “safe” and pressuring physicians to prescribe them to patients, pharmaceutical giants like Purdue Pharma and Johnson & Johnson are widely considered to have liability for opioid addiction injuries.
The opioid problem has become so pervasive that, unlike conventional consumer class action cases, the litigation has often come directly from affected city, county, and state governments. In Oklahoma, for example, a judge required Johnson & Johnson to pay $572 million, with Purdue Pharma paying $270 million to the state as well. Just last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Purdue Pharma is working on a multi-billion dollar settlement deal with thousands of local governments and at least 23 states.
The Future of Opioid Litigation
The October 21st trial in Cleveland, Ohio is considered to be one of the most complex civil actions in all of United States legal history, involving over 2,000 opioid-related cases and weaving together plaintiffs at every level of American society. Almost every drug manufacturer and distributor involved in the opioid crisis, including Johnson & Johnson, will be a defendant in this massive case.
Attorney General Doug Peterson of Nebraska is one of the only state attorneys general who has decided not to pursue a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, instead opting to lead a multi-state investigation into the aggressive marketing campaigns and tactics of Big Pharma. However, at least five Nebraska counties including several in the Omaha area have joined the rising tide of litigation, in an attempt to quell the massive economic issues reverberating throughout the region. If the judge in Cleveland decides in favor of the plaintiffs, these counties could get the funding to start combating the opioid crisis and undoing the damage done.
At Domina Law Group, we’re committed to being part of this massive legal effort and ensuring that our clients receive the fair compensation that they deserve. With years of experience standing up to Big Pharma and multi-billion dollar companies, we have the knowledge and the skill to pursue your opioid lawsuit in Nebraska. If you or your family members have been affected by opioid addiction, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Contact us today at (888) 387-4134 for more information.