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Opioid Case Against Johnson & Johnson Is In The Hands Of Oklahoma Judge

Judge Thad Balkman hears closing arguments on July 15, 2019.
Chris Landsberger / The Oklahoman
Judge Thad Balkman hears closing arguments on July 15, 2019.

After a seven-week trial, a judge in Oklahoma is now considering whether Johnson & Johnson should be held responsible for the state's opioid epidemic.

The lawsuit, which is the first of its kind to play out in court, alleges Johnson & Johnson helped ignite the opioid crisis with aggressive marketing, leading to thousands of overdose deaths. The state is asking for more than $17 billion.

In his closing arguments on Monday, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter called the Johnson & Johnson the kingpin of the opioid crisis.

"What is truly unprecedented here is the conduct of these defendants on embarking on a cunning, cynical and deceitful scheme to create the need for opioids," said Hunter.

When it was his turn, the company's lawyer Larry Ottaway, said opioids are already subject to a litany of rules.

"This is not a free market," said Ottaway. "The supply is regulated by the government."

If the state prevails, Johnson & Johnson could have to spend billions to help ease the epidemic in Oklahoma.

The judge indicated his ruling could come later this summer.

Copyright 2019 KOSU

Jackie Fortier joined StateImpact Oklahoma in November 2017, reporting on a variety of topics and heading up its health reporting initiative. She has many journalism awards to her name during her years of multi-media reporting in Colorado, and was part of a team recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists with a Sigma Delta Chi award for excellence in breaking news reporting in 2013.
Jackie Fortier