Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $572 million in Oklahoma

An Oklahoma judge has ordered medical giant Johnson & Johnson to pay USD 572 million for its role in the opioid crisis which has "ravaged" the state.
According to CNN, the verdict was given by Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman.
As per his ruling, the company "engaged in false & misleading marketing of both their drugs & opioids generally, & the law makes clear that such conduct is more than enough to serve as the act or omission necessary to establish the first element of Oklahoma's public nuisance law."
After the judgement, the company made public its plans to challenge the "flawed" judgment.
Michael Ullmann, the executive vice president & general counsel for Johnson & Johnson said, "Janssen did not cause the opioid crisis in Oklahoma, & neither the facts nor the law support this outcome".

Johnson & Johnson further added, "We recognize the opioid crisis is a tremendously complex public health issue & we have deep sympathy for everyone affected. We are working with partners to find ways to help those in need. This judgment is a misapplication of public nuisance law that has already been rejected by judges in other states".

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