Baltimore

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Baltimore City in Firefighter Tragedy, Questions Grounds for Allegations

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BALTIMORE — A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the families of three Baltimore City firefighters who perished in a building collapse in January 2022 has been dismissed by a federal judge. The firefighters, identified as Paul Butrim, Kelsey Sadler, and Kenneth Lacayo, tragically lost their lives during a fire in a vacant property, an event that the family’s lawyers claimed was both predictable and preventable. Attorneys for the families argued that the city of Baltimore and its leadership were responsible due to longstanding safety concerns at the site that were allegedly disregarded. They contended the … Read more

Baltimore City Takes Bold Step, Seeking $11 Billion More to Combat Opioid Crisis Following Landmark Jury Verdict

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Baltimore, Maryland – Following a significant victory in a landmark opioid lawsuit, the Baltimore city government is setting the stage to seek an additional $11 billion to address the extensive damages caused by the opioid crisis. This move follows a recent jury decision that held major pharmaceutical companies responsible for their roles in exacerbating the opioid epidemic, a problem that has plagued the city with widespread addiction and increased healthcare costs. The lawsuit’s outcome marked Baltimore’s first successful civil jury trial against opioid manufacturers and distributors. City officials argue that the substantial sum is necessary … Read more

Baltimore Wins $266 Million in Landmark Opioid Case, Total Recovery Surpasses $668 Million

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Baltimore, MD — In a significant legal victory, the city of Baltimore was awarded $266 million in damages from McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, two major pharmaceutical firms, due to their roles in the local opioid crisis. This decision reflects the city’s proactive approach in handling its opioid litigation independent of the nationwide settlement involving several states and municipalities. The city previously chose not to join the 2021 national opioid settlement, which included agreements with Cardinal Health, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Johnson & Johnson. Instead, Baltimore pursued individual settlements and legal battles, previously securing more than three times … Read more

Baltimore Wins $274 Million Verdict Against Drug Distributors for Fueling Opioid Crisis

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BALTIMORE — In a significant legal decision, a jury recently sided with Baltimore, finding that two prominent drug distributors played a crucial role in exacerbating the city’s opioid crisis by distributing hundreds of millions of painkillers. The verdict concluded with an award of $274 million in damages to the city, spotlighting the ongoing national debate over accountability in the opioid epidemic. The decision came after the jury found that McKesson Corp. and AmerisourceBergen Corp., which together controlled 60% of Baltimore’s opioid market for roughly a decade, were responsible for the public nuisance by unreasonably flooding … Read more