Opioid

Judge Dials Down Baltimore’s $266 Million Opioid Verdict Against Drug Giants, Reducing It to $52 Million Amid Fallout

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Baltimore, Maryland — A judge has ruled that jurors overstepped by awarding the city an excessive sum in a recent verdict against two major drug distributors, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen. The decision follows a November trial where jurors determined that these companies had unreasonably supplied large quantities of painkillers that contributed significantly to Baltimore’s opioid crisis. Jurors held McKesson and AmerisourceBergen accountable for an alarming 97% of the city’s opioid epidemic and awarded Baltimore $266 million in damages. However, Baltimore City Circuit Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill indicated that this amount was disproportionate to the evidence presented, suggesting … Read more

Duane Morris Highlights Major Legal Battles in Opioid and PFAS Litigation – Learn From Experts in New Podcast Episode

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Philadelphia, PA — Discussing key trends and developments in class action litigation, the latest episode of “Class Action Weekly Wire” produced by Duane Morris, sheds light on the 2025 edition of the Products Liability & Mass Torts Class Action Review. This discussion prominently features Duane Morris partner Jerry Maatman along with senior associates Anne Gruner and Betty Luu. Their discourse delves deeply into the intricate legal terrain shaped by recent pivotal class actions, especially those regarding opioid and PFAS litigation. In their podcast, available across multiple streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, the trio … Read more

Maryland Doctor Faces Court in Alleged Multi-State Opioid Distribution Scandal

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WASHINGTON — Jury selection is slated to commence this week in the federal trial of a Maryland doctor who is accused of spearheading an opioid distribution network that sprawled across multiple states. Dr. Ndubuisi Joseph Okafor, from Upper Marlboro, is facing trial after allegations surfaced of him utilizing his medical practice to illicitly distribute vast quantities of prescription opioids. The charges against Dr. Okafor include 29 felony counts of illegal distribution of opioids, significantly expanded from an initial 16 counts in 2023. Federal authorities contend that between March and November 2022, Dr. Okafor and his … Read more

Kansas Bill Aims to Boost Police Access to Opioid Antidote, Strengthening Response to Overdose Crises

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WICHITA, Kan. — Kansas lawmakers are working to pass a new bill that could dramatically increase law enforcement’s ability to combat the opioid epidemic by providing easier access to naloxone, a potentially lifesaving antidote used in opioid overdoses. If enacted, the legislation would streamline the provision of the drug to officers statewide and remove bureaucratic hurdles that have hitherto hampered its wider distribution. The bill proposes the creation of a fund dedicated to supplying police departments with naloxone. This move is particularly significant for smaller, resource-strapped departments that have struggled under former regulations to acquire … Read more