Earlier this week, the state of Washington went to trial relying on a controversial legal theory to win $38 billion from three large pharmaceutical wholesalers for failing to monitor shipments of prescription opioid painkillers and, as a result, jeopardizing public health.
As with any trial, legal strategy is something of a gamble. In this instance, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson had rejected a settlement offer of $527.5 million over 18 years, which he called ‘woefully insufficient.’ Instead, he believes the state can convincingly argue that the wholesalers caused a ‘public nuisance,’ which generally refers to an action that damages or interferes with a community. Unlock this article by subscribing to STAT+ and enjoy your first 30 days free! GET STARTED STAT+ is STAT’s premium subscription service for in-depth biotech, pharma, policy, and life science coverage and analysis. Our award-winning team covers news on Wall Street, policy developments in Washington, early science breakthroughs and clinical trial results, and health care disruption in Silicon Valley and beyond. What’s included? Daily reporting and analysis The most comprehensive industry coverage from a powerhouse team of reporters Subscriber-only newsletters Daily newsletters to brief you on the most important industry news of the day STAT+ Conversations Weekly opportunities to engage with our reporters and leading industry experts in live video conversations Exclusive industry events Premium access to subscriber-only networking events around the country The best reporters in the industry The most trusted and well-connected newsroom in the health care industry And much more Exclusive interviews with industry leaders, profiles, and premium tools, like our CRISPR Trackr. This name will appear with your comment
https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2021/11/18/opioids-jnj-teva-endo-abbvie-nuisance-california-oklahoma/
