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Oklahoma judge reduces J&J order in opioid lawsuit by $107M

Oklahoma judge reduces J&J order in opioid lawsuit by $107M
THAT’S NOT THE ONLY THING THE JUDGE DECIDED TODAY. DILLON BACK IN JULY, CLEVELAND COUNTY JUDGE THAD BALKMAN FOUND THE DRUG MAKER JOHNSON & JOHNS OWED OKLAHOMA $572 MILLION FOR THE COMPANY’S ROLE IN FUELING THE OPIOID CRISIS. BUT LATER, THE JUDGE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE’D MADE A $107 MILLION ERROR IN CALCULATING THAT FIRST DECISIO >> I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE COMPUTING ERROR CONTAINED IN MY AUGUST 26 JUDGMENT. THAT WILL BE THE LAST TIME I USE THAT CALCULATOR. DILLON HE FIXED THAT TODAY, CHANGING THE AWARD TO $465 MILLION. HE ALSO DENIED JOHNSON & JOHNSON’S REQUEST TO LOWER THE AWARD EVEN MORE, AND HE APPEARED TO RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ANNUAL AWARDS. A.G. HUNTER HAS TOLD ME IN THE PAST THAT THIS MONEY WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. >> WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE IN A VERY COMPREHENSIVE WAY TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR ANY FAMILY, FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO NEE HELP. DILLON: THE AG’S OFFICE SAYING ON TODAY’S DECISION --
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Oklahoma judge reduces J&J order in opioid lawsuit by $107M
The state of Oklahoma will be getting $107 million less than expected from the historic opioid trial, Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman ruled today.Balkman issued a 43-page final order in the massive case, which defendant Johnson & Johnson has vowed to appeal. Balkman found the drugmaker responsible for a public nuisance in connection with its role in fueling the state’s opioid crisis and ordered it to pay $572 million – now $465 million.Balkman reduced the judgement after realizing he had made a math error in the amounts the company was ordered to pay to remediate the opioid crisis in Oklahoma.The reduced judgement wasn’t the only thing in the order. Balkman denied Johnson & Johnson’s request to further lower the award and appeared to rule out the possibility, which the state sought, of returning annually for additional money from the company.Attorney General Mike Hunter has said the award from the trial will make a big difference in combating opioid abuse."We're going to be able in a very comprehensive way to provide relief for any family, for any individual who needs help dealing with an addiction related to prescription opioids,” he said. When asked to comment on today’s order, Hunter’s office said he would comment when he had “thoroughly and thoughtfully” reviewed it.

The state of Oklahoma will be getting $107 million less than expected from the historic opioid trial, Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman ruled today.

Balkman issued a 43-page final order in the massive case, which defendant Johnson & Johnson has vowed to appeal. Balkman found the drugmaker responsible for a public nuisance in connection with its role in fueling the state’s opioid crisis and ordered it to pay $572 million – now $465 million.

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Balkman reduced the judgement after realizing he had made a math error in the amounts the company was ordered to pay to remediate the opioid crisis in Oklahoma.

The reduced judgement wasn’t the only thing in the order. Balkman denied Johnson & Johnson’s request to further lower the award and appeared to rule out the possibility, which the state sought, of returning annually for additional money from the company.

Attorney General Mike Hunter has said the award from the trial will make a big difference in combating opioid abuse.

"We're going to be able in a very comprehensive way to provide relief for any family, for any individual who needs help dealing with an addiction related to prescription opioids,” he said.

When asked to comment on today’s order, Hunter’s office said he would comment when he had “thoroughly and thoughtfully” reviewed it.