The Oklahoma State Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in overturning a trial court’s $465-million judgment against J&J in 2019 for opioid-related claims.

In a November 9, 2021 statement, J&J said the court, in making the ruling, rejected the expansion of the public nuisance law as a means to regulate the manufacture, marketing, and sale of products, including the company’s prescription opioid medications. J&J no longer sells prescription opioid medications in the US.

Separately, last month (October 2021), J&J settled with the state of Texas and its participating subdivisions to resolve opioid-related claims against J&J. With this agreement, the company is removed from pending Texas State and subdivision litigation, including two bellwether trials scheduled for early 2022.

The $297-million settlement with Texas is consistent with the terms of the company’s previously announced nationwide opioid settlement agreement. The dollar amount to be received by the state is the pro-rated share it would have received under this agreement, which will be deducted from the all-in settlement amount.

Source: Johnson & Johnson (Oklahoma) and Johnson & Johnson (Texas)