Johnson & Johnson Ordered to Pay $572 Million for Role in State’s Opioid Epidemic

August 26, 2019 by Dan McCue
Johnson & Johnson Ordered to Pay $572 Million for Role in State’s Opioid Epidemic

An Oklahoma judge on Monday ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $572 million for its role in fueling the state’s opioid abuse crisis.

Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman’s ruling concluded the first state opioid case to make it to trial.

In handing it down, he said “the opioid crisis has ravaged the state of Oklahoma. It must be abated immediately.”

“For this reason, I’m entering an abatement plan that consists of costs totaling $572,102,028 to immediately remediate the nuisance,” he said.

Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries are expected to appeal the ruling to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

The outcome is expected to have broad implications for the more than 1,500 similar lawsuits filed by local, state and tribal governments that have been consolidated before a federal judge in Ohio.

With Balkman’s ruling, a judge, for the first time has said drug companies can be held liable for the national health crisis of opioid addiction.

Prior to the start of the Johnson & Johnson trial in late May, Oklahoma had reached settlements with two other defendants, with Oxycontin maker Purdue Parma agreeing to pay the state $270 million and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. agreeing to pay $85 million.

In the underlying lawsuit, Oklahoma claimed the drug makers overstated how effective their products were for treating chronic pain and understated the risk of addiction.

According to the state Attorney General’s office, 4,653 residents of the state were killed by opioid overdoses between 2007 and 2017.

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter said on Twitter Monday morning that the state’s case revealed how “corporate greed got in the way of responsible practices at Johnson & Johnson.”

Attorneys for the company countered by arguing their clients did nothing illegal and that they are part of a heavily-regulated industry subject to strict oversight by a number of federal agencies. 

A+
a-
  • court ruling
  • Johnson& Johnson
  • Opioids
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Opioids

    March 26, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    Kennedy Renews Emergency Declaration to Address Opioid Crisis 

    WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has renewed a public health emergency declaration aimed at... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has renewed a public health emergency declaration aimed at curbing the nation’s stubborn opioid abuse crisis. The emergency, first declared by President Donald Trump during his first term, was set to expire on March 21.... Read More

    Trump Must Take Back Control of Our Health Agencies From Corporate Influence

    The American people elected President Donald Trump to shake up America’s health care system.  Now Trump’s back in charge, and... Read More

    The American people elected President Donald Trump to shake up America’s health care system.  Now Trump’s back in charge, and he’s putting outsiders at the helm of America’s top health care agencies. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services,... Read More

    August 10, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    Justices Put Opioid Settlement on Hold Pending Further Review

    WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court said late Thursday afternoon that it will review a bankruptcy settlement involving Purdue Pharma,... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court said late Thursday afternoon that it will review a bankruptcy settlement involving Purdue Pharma, in the process placing a hold on a $6 billion deal that would forever shield the Sackler family from civil opioid lawsuits. In taking its action... Read More

    New Nasal Spray to Reverse Fentanyl and Other Opioid Overdoses Gets FDA Approval

    WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Monday approved a new easy-to-use version of a medication to reverse overdoses caused... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Monday approved a new easy-to-use version of a medication to reverse overdoses caused by fentanyl and other opioids driving the nation’s drug crisis. Opvee is similar to naloxone, the life-saving drug that has been used for decades to quickly counter overdoses of heroin, fentanyl... Read More

    August 18, 2022
    by Tom Ramstack
    Ohio Judge Orders Pharmacies to Pay $650M for Opioid Abuse

    CLEVELAND — Pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens and Walmart must pay $650.5 million to help with the opioid recovery efforts of... Read More

    CLEVELAND — Pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens and Walmart must pay $650.5 million to help with the opioid recovery efforts of two Ohio counties, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. He agreed with officials in Lake and Trumbull counties that the pharmacies’ failure to protect their customers who... Read More

    July 26, 2022
    by Tom Ramstack
    Senate Seeks New Strategy in Opioid Crisis

    WASHINGTON — Only days after the Justice Department announced successful prosecutions of drug runners and seizures of huge stashes of... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Only days after the Justice Department announced successful prosecutions of drug runners and seizures of huge stashes of illegal opioids, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said what was on everyone’s mind at a Senate hearing Tuesday. “I think we have to face the unpleasant truth... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top