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A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 27 augusT 2019
He specifically pointed cracking with emotion.
to two former Johnson Oklahoma pursued the
& Johnson subsidiaries, case under the state's pub-
Noramco and Tasmanian lic nuisance statute and
Alkaloids, which produced presented the judge with a
much of the raw opium plan to abate the crisis that
used by other manufactur- would cost between $12.6
ers to produce the drugs. billion for 20 years and
On Monday, Hunter said $17.5 billion over 30 years.
the Oklahoma case could Attorneys for Johnson &
provide a "road map" for Johnson have said that es-
other states to follow in timate is wildly inflated. The
holding drugmakers re- judge's award would cover
sponsible for the opioid cri- the costs of one year of the
sis. state's abatement plan,
"That's the message to oth- funding things like opioid
er states: We did it in Okla- use prevention and addic-
homa. You can do it else- tion treatment.
where," Hunter said. "John- Attorneys for the company
son & Johnson will finally have maintained they were
be held accountable for part of a lawful and heavily
thousands of deaths and regulated industry subject
addictions caused by their to strict federal oversight, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, center, smiles as he answers a question during a news
activities." including the U.S. Drug En- conference following the announcement of the Opioid Lawsuit decision in Norman, Okla., Mon-
Among those seated in forcement Agency and the day, Aug. 26, 2019.
the courtroom on Monday Food and Drug Administra- Associated Press
were Craig and Gail Box, tion, during every step of
whose son Austin was a the supply chain. Lawyers "You can't sue your way out this decision is a critical uments public. The court
22-year-old standout line- for the company said the of the opioid abuse crisis," step forward for the more record was sealed in 2015
backer for the Oklahoma judgment was a misappli- Strong said. "Litigation is not than 2,000 cities, counties, as part of a $24 million set-
Sooners when he died of a cation of public nuisance the answer." and towns we represent in tlement between Purdue
prescription drug overdose law. Attorneys for the plaintiffs in the consolidation of fed- and Kentucky. The 17 mil-
in 2011. Sabrina Strong, an attor- the cases consolidated be- eral opioid cases," they lion pages of documents
One of the attorneys for the ney for Johnson & Johnson fore a federal judge in Ohio said in a statement. Also were being shipped Mon-
state, Reggie Whitten, said and its subsidiaries, said called the Oklahoma judg- on Monday, the Kentucky day from Frankfort to Pike
he also lost a son to opioid the companies have sym- ment "a milestone amid Supreme Court declined County, where the case
abuse. pathy for those who suffer the mounting evidence to review an earlier ruling originated. The Pike County
"I feel like my boy is looking from substance abuse but against the opioid pharma- , making previously secret Circuit Court Clerk's office
down," Whitten said after called the judge's decision ceutical industry." testimony from former Pur- could not immediately say
the judge's ruling, his voice "flawed." "While public nuisance due Pharma President Rick- how and when they would
laws differ in every state, ard Sackler and other doc- be available.q

After cancer treatment, Ruth Bader

Ginsburg in NY for honorary degree

cently completed radia-
tion therapy for a cancer-
ous tumor on her pancreas,
but said she did not want
her health problems to stop
her from fulfilling a commit-
ment she made last year to
a fellow Cornell University
alumni and lawyer, Wayne
Wisbaum, who has since
died.
"I didn't know this day would
be preceded by three
weeks of daily radiation,"
Ginsburg said later during
an event for the area legal
Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speaks community, "but I said 'I will
about her work and gender equality following a ceremony
where she received a SUNY Honorary Degree from the University not cancel Buffalo.'"
at Buffalo, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, in Buffalo N.Y. The Supreme Court an-
Associated Press nounced Friday that Gins-
burg underwent outpatient
By CAROLYN THOMPSON year Monday when she radiation therapy begin-
Associated Press accepted an honorary de- ning Aug. 5. It said there is
AMHERST, N.Y. (AP) — Jus- gree on campus and talk- no evidence of the disease
tice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ed about her dedication to remaining.
gave University at Buffalo equal rights and the "Noto- She called her contribu-
law students a memorable rious R.B.G" nickname. tions to gender equality
start to the new academic The 86-year-old justice re- "exhilarating."q