opioid epidemic News

Judge Rules Boston Waited Too Long to Sue Drug Intermediaries Over Opioid Crisis

A federal judge has dismissed the city of Boston’s lawsuit seeking to hold pharmacy benefit managers liable for the opioid epidemic. US District Judge Patti B. Saris ruled that the suit against the drug intermediaries was filed too late. The …

Jury Awards Baltimore $266 Million in Damages After Opioid Trial

A jury has awarded the city of Baltimore $266 million in damages in its suit against pharmaceutical firms McKesson and AmerisourceBergen for their part in the city’s opioid epidemic. With the jury award, the city has notched another win for …

Update: Baltimore Reaches Opioid Litigation Settlements with Teva and Walgreens

Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced yesterday that one week before a trial is to begin, the city reached an $80 million settlement with Teva Pharmaceuticals to resolve the city’s claims over the firm’s role in fueling Baltimore’s opioid epidemic. …

Baltimore’s Opioid Settlement With Cardinal Health Brings Total to $242.5 Million

The city of Baltimore has reached a $152.5 million settlement with Cardinal Health to resolve the city’s claims against the opioid distributor related to its role in the opioid epidemic. Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced that Cardinal will pay …

Maine Doctor Convicted on Multiple Counts of IIlegally Distributing Opioids

A Maine doctor who runs an addiction treatment center has been convicted on multiple counts of illegally distributing opioids including oxycodone, hydromorphone and fentanyl. Dr. Merideth Norris, 53, of Kennebunk, Maine, was found guilty in federal court Friday of distributing …

McKinsey Faces US Criminal Probe Over Opioids Work, Sources Say

McKinsey & Co is under criminal investigation in the United States over allegations that the consulting firm played a key role in fueling the opioid epidemic, with federal prosecutors homing in on its work advising OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and …

Judge Trims U.S. Lawsuit Accusing Drug Distributor of Fueling Opioid Epidemic

A federal judge on Monday pared back a U.S. government lawsuit accusing drug distributor Cencora, formerly called AmerisourceBergen, of fueling the nation’s deadly opioid epidemic by failing to report hundreds of thousands of suspicious orders of prescription painkillers. U.S. District …

U.S. Sues AmerisourceBergen, Says Distributor Helped Ignite Opioid Epidemic

The U.S. government filed a lawsuit accusing AmerisourceBergen Corp., one of the nation’s largest drug distributors, of helping ignite the nation’s deadly opioid epidemic by failing to report hundreds of thousands of suspicious orders of prescription painkillers. In a Dec. …

Ohio Court: Insurer Has No Duty to Defend Drug Distributor Against Opioid Lawsuit

An insurer has no duty to defend a drug distributor against lawsuits filed by cities and counties that allege it failed to take proper steps to prevent abuse of prescription opioids, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. In a 5-2 …

New Hampshire Joins States Suing Pharmacies Over Role in Opioid Epidemic

The state of New Hampshire sued pharmacy chains Tuesday, becoming the latest government entity seeking to hold them accountable for fueling the nation’s deadly opioid epidemic. The lawsuit filed by Attorney General John Formella calls CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens and …