Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday took the state's case against the nation's three biggest drug distributors to trial, saying they must be held accountable for their role in the nation's opioid epidemic.
The Associated Presson Monday took the state's case against the nation's three biggest drug distributors to trial, saying they must be held accountable for their role in the nation's opioid epidemic.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Wilson issued a tentative ruling Nov. 1 that the counties, plus the city of Oakland, had not proven the pharmaceutical companies used deceptive marketing to increase unnecessary opioid prescriptions and create a public nuisance. The Oklahoma ruling said a lower court wrongly interpreted the state’s public nuisance law.
“There is always uncertainty when you take a case to trial," he said."However, we feel confident in the strength of our case.” The drug companies say that they cannot be blamed for epidemic; they merely supplied opioids that had been prescribed by doctors. It wasn't their role to second-guess the prescriptions or interfere in the doctor-patient relationship, they argued in a trial brief filed this month.
Nevertheless, the state argues, the companies had a duty to maintain controls against drug diversion. Instead, they shipped so much to Washington that it was obvious that it was fueling addiction: Opioid sales in Washington rose more than 500% between 1997 and 2011.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden Signs $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill—Here's Everything It Will Pay ForThe sweeping new bill includes $110 billion for roads and bridges, $65 billion to equip all Americans with broadband internet, $1 billion for the Great Lakes and much more.
Read more »
Ahold Delhaize Announces EUR1B Share Buyback Program to Start at Beginning of 2022By Jaime Llinares Taboada Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV said Monday that it will aim to grow sales by 10 billion euro ($11.44 billion) by 2025, and will...
Read more »
Heineken to Take Control of Distell, Namibia BreweriesBy Ian Walker Heineken NV said Monday that it has agreed to buy Distell Group Holdings Ltd. for around 2.2 billion euros ($2.52 billion) as part of a plan to...
Read more »
The Royal Family Can Apparently Sue 'The Crown' Producers If They Want To'Friends of the Royal Family sought legal advice.'
Read more »
Burger King parent Restaurant Brands International buys Firehouse Subs for $1 billionBurger King parent Restaurant Brands International announced Monday it bought Firehouse Subs for $1 billion.
Read more »
Biden signs infrastructure bill marking victory in hard-fought legislative battleBREAKING: President Biden signs $555B infrastructure bill, which will direct billions of dollars toward new construction on roads, bridges, airports and seaports.
Read more »