Johnson & Johnson Will Pay $230M to Settle Opioid Marketing Claims, Won’t Face Trial

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Johnson & Johnson will pay $230 million to settle claims that its marketing of opioids fueled a deadly drug epidemic in New York. 

The multinational corporation announced the settlement Saturday, just days before it was due to defend itself in the nation’s first jury trial over the opioid crisis, Law360 reports. 

That trial starts Tuesday, with remaining defendants Walgreens, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Allergan, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, McKesson Corp., and Anda Inc. 

“The eyes of the world are on New York today as we prepare to lay bare the callous and deadly pattern of misconduct these companies perpetrated as they dealt dangerous and addictive opioids across our state,” New York State Attorney General Letitia James said Tuesday. 

“As we fight to put an end to these companies’ unlawful conduct and hold them accountable for the consequences, we recognize no amount of money will ever compensate for the pain and destruction we have collectively experienced, but we hope to push every dollar possible into preventing any future devastation — by investing in prevention, education, and treatment programs.”

In the case of Johnson & Johnson, the settlement also includes an agreement that the company will stop selling opioids nationwide, according to James. She said the deal was negotiated as part of a larger, global deal. 

The agreement resolves claims made by James about the company’s role in helping to fuel the opioid epidemic in New York state, and would allocate payments over nine years, with substantial payments made upfront, she said. New York is eligible to receive more than $130 million as soon as February 2022. 

“Johnson & Johnson helped fuel this fire, but today they’re committing to leaving the opioid business — not only in New York, but across the entire country,” James said. “Opioids will no longer be manufactured or sold in the United States by J&J.”

Like Johnson & Johnson, defendants Walmart, CVS, and Rite Aid were also cut from the proceedings ahead of the trial, with CVS announcing it had also reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount, Law360 reported.

The case comes after James filed what she called “the nation’s most extensive lawsuit to hold accountable the various manufacturers and distributors responsible for the opioid epidemic,” in March 2019. The suit took aim at Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family and various opioid distributors. 

On Monday, James said the case against Purdue Pharma and the Sackler Family was now moving separately through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

American multinational corporation Johnson & Johnson is a household name, known for developing numerous consumer products, medical devices, and pharmaceutical items that frequent the shelves of department stores. 

In addition to the James’ class action lawsuit, the company has found itself as a defendant in a number of class actions over the years —  Including lawsuits claiming that Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder has asbestos in it and is causing cancer, allegations of faulty surgical staples and more.

Click here to read more about the latest Johnson & Johnson class action lawsuit updates, the potential lawsuit settlement amounts, and learn about any Johnson & Johnson news updates to discover if there are any lawsuit settlements or class action investigations that you may be able to join. 

What do you think about the Johnson & Johnson settlement? Let us know in the comments!

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