Johnson and Johnson liable for $572 million in Oklahoma opioid crisis

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 10:25

MARIO TAMA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

In a landmark ruling, an Oklahoma judge has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $572 million after finding it guilty in fueling the state's opioid crisis.

The pharmaceutical giant ran a “false and dangerous” sales campaign in promoting highly addictive prescription painkillers that caused addiction and death, Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman ruled.

The payment would be used for the care and treatment of opioid addicts, he said.

Following the ruling, Johnson & Johnson announced that it plans to appeal the "flawed" judgment.

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