by Nate Raymond
(Reuters) – A California judge on Monday announced he would rule against several counties in the state that accuse four labs of fueling the opioid crisis, saying the plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate the labs’ responsibility which they claim 50 billion dollars.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Wilson released an interim ruling that Johnson & Johnson, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Endo International and Allergan, a division of AbbVie, were not responsible for causing public unrest .
While he said he was aware of the heavy toll caused by the deadly opioid crisis, as well as its impact on society, Justice Wilson said the laboratories could not be held responsible, even whether the advertising materials used by these firms contained erroneous or misleading information about the risks and benefits of opioids.
This is because “any negative consequences arising from appropriate medical prescriptions cannot constitute a public nuisance capable of giving rise to action”, after federal and local authorities have already assessed the social usefulness of opioids.
No comment was immediately obtained from the counties of Santa Clara, Los Angeles and Orange.
J&J said in a statement that the move shows that its actions have been “appropriate and responsible, and caused no public nuisance.”
The other laboratories did not react immediately.
(Report Nate Raymond in Boston; French version Jean Terzian)
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