Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trial Of Three Biggest Opioid Distributors Begins
Bloomberg: McKesson Opioid Trial Begins With $95 Billion Potentially at Stake
McKesson Corp. and two other drug distributors say they could end up having to pay more than $95 billion if they lose a trial in Seattle over the opioid crisis that began Monday. Washington State Attorney General Robert Ferguson claims McKesson, Cardinal Health Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp. violated the state’s consumer-protection laws by turning a blind eye to red flags about opioid shipments. The companies failed to have tracking systems in place to prevent illegitimate sales and distribution of opioids as required by Washington’s state law, Ferguson said. (Feeley, 11/15)
Reuters: Washington State, In $95 Billion Opioid Trial, Blames Drug Distributors For Crisis
Washington state's attorney general on Monday argued in court that three large drug distributors' excessive shipments of pain pills helped fuel the U.S. opioid epidemic, calling it the "worst man-made public health crisis in history," as the state sought to recoup an estimated $95 billion. The argument came at the start of a trial in the state's bid to recover more money from distributors McKesson Corp (MCK.N), Cardinal Health Inc (CAH.N) and AmerisourceBergen Corp (ABC.N) than it would have received in a $26 billion nationwide settlement. (Raymond, 11/16)
AP: Washington Seeks Over $38 Billion From Opioid Distributors
After rejecting a half-billion-dollar settlement, 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 Democrat delivered part of the opening statement in King County Superior Court himself, calling the case possibly the most significant public health lawsuit his agency had ever filed. (11/15)
Pharmacy chains dispute opioid role —
Reuters: Pharmacy Chains Defend Actions As Landmark U.S. Opioid Trial Nears Its End
Lawyers for pharmacy chains including CVS and Walgreens on Monday argued they were not to blame for the U.S. opioid epidemic, as jurors prepared to consider whether to hold them responsible for the devastation the drug crisis caused in two Ohio counties. Mark Lanier, a lawyer for Lake and Trumbull counties, told a federal jury in Cleveland that a verdict in the case against CVS Health Corp (CVS.N), Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA.O) and Walmart Inc (WMT.N) would have ramifications across the country. (Segall, 11/15)
On the Johnson & Johnson talc lawsuits —
Bloomberg: 9/11 Victim Fund Director Feinberg Is Named Mediator For J&J Fight
The lawyer who oversaw payments to victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has agreed to mediate part of the fight between Johnson & Johnson’s former talc supplier and thousands of women who claim the company’s baby powder causes ovarian cancer. Kenneth R. Feinberg would share duties with another mediator as part of an effort to resolve nearly 14,000 lawsuits against Imerys Talc America. Imerys filed bankruptcy in Delaware in 2019 with plans to force J&J to help pay for a victim’s trust that would settle all current and future lawsuits. J&J claims it isn’t responsible for helping Imerys. (Church, 11/15)
