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By Nate Raymond
(Reuters) – The highest court in Oklahoma on Monday refused to defer a landmark lawsuit in May, as part of a multi-billion dollar lawsuit, accusing OxyContin's manufacturer, Purdue Pharma. LP and two other drug companies, to help fuel an epidemic of opioid abuse and overdose in the state.
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma's decision was a win for the state Attorney General, whose case is expected to be the first to be sued in front of about 2,000 actions in court to blame opioid manufacturers for the responsibility to contribute to the epidemic.
The pursuit of 2017 by Oklahoma's Attorney General Mike Hunter blames Purdue, Johnson & Johnson and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd for engaging in misleading marketing that minimizes the risks of dependence on opioid antidepressant drugs, while exaggerating their profits.
Companies deny wrongdoing. They had sought to postpone the trial from May 28 to September 16, citing the need to review the documents submitted by the state that might be of critical importance to their defense. The state claims more than $ 20 billion in damages.
The application for trial was delayed as Purdue, belonging to members of the wealthy Sackler family, was considering seeking Chapter 11 protection in case of bankruptcy to face potential liabilities arising from the lawsuits, told Reuters with this case.
Purdue did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. After the trial judge refused to delay the trial on March 8, Purdue, of Stamford, Connecticut, denied that his decision could affect his eventual bankruptcy.
"We appreciate the fast-paced business of the court and not rewarding the defendants with more time for a problem that they themselves have created," Hunter said in a statement.
J & J and Teva did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Opioids, including prescription painkillers, heroin, and fentanyl, resulted in a record 47,600 overdose deaths in 2017, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The outbreak has resulted in state and local government prosecutions, accusing Purdue and other drug companies of contributing to the crisis.
More than 1,600 lawsuits were brought together before a federal judge from Ohio, who argued for a pre-trial settlement before him in October. Other cases, including that of Oklahoma, are pending in state courts.
(Report by Nate Raymond in Boston, edited by Bill Berkrot)
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