Opioid Manufacturers Debate Over Jury Trial in Oklahoma Suit

Opioid Manufacturers Debate Over Jury Trial in Oklahoma Suit

Introduction

Opioid manufacturers sued by the state of Oklahoma were divided in their opinion over whether the state’s case must be tried before a judge or a jury.

After Oklahoma Attorney General, Mike Hunter, dropped some of the state's claims last week, Johnson & Johnson filed a motion in Cleveland County District Court on Tuesday, requesting for a jury trial. However, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and Allergan filed a motion in favor of a trial before a judge, if the state agrees to certain conditions. A hearing session on these differing motions will be held soon.

Last month, Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family agreed to pay $270 million to settle claims filed by the state of Oklahoma, which blamed the company and its owners for the national opioid crisis. A majority of the settlement amount will go towards creating a new center for opioid addiction treatment and research in Tulsa.