Judge fines Johnson & Johnson $572 million for role in Oklahoma opioid case

NORMAN, Okla. — An Oklahoma judge on Monday found Johnson & Johnson JNJ, +0.80% and its subsidiaries helped fuel the state’s opioid drug crisis and ordered the consumer products giant to pay $572 million to help abate the problem in the coming years.

“The opioid crisis has ravaged the state of Oklahoma,” Balkman said before announcing the verdict. “It must be abated immediately.”Before Oklahoma’s trial began May 28, Oklahoma reached settlements with two other defendant groups — a $270 million deal with OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma and an $85 million settlement with Israeli-owned Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Mike Hunter has called Johnson & Johnson a “kingpin” company that was motivated by greed. He specifically pointed to two former Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries, Noramco and Tasmanian Alkaloids, which produced much of the raw opium used by other manufacturers to produce the drugs.

Business Business Latest News, Business Business Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Johnson & Johnson must pay over $572 million for its role in Oklahoma opioid crisis, judge rulesOklahoma's attorney general claimed that the company marketed opioids to doctors while downplaying the risks of the addictive painkillers since the 1990s. Now do guns best news I've heard all day. Personal responsibility no longer matters for those who always seek a scapegoat.
Source: NBCNews - 🏆 10. / 86 Read more »