This semester we will be following the ongoing cases related to opioid lawsuits. You are tasked with following the cases and collateral developments and keeping a journal of your findings.

In this course we will follow the opioid cases and trace its history and follow with your updates on the developments in the case. We will follow the Opioid Cases brought against major pharmacy companies by Attorneys General of several states. Recently a case in Oklahoma was decided by a jury against the “Big Pharma” companies. Some defendants have already settled and one has gone bankrupt since settlement. The opioid crisis in this country is at an epidemic level and this is the first major case against a major drug maker to go to trial. Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is vigorously defending the lawsuit. Most of us know someone who has had an opioid issue. We all need to develop opinions and attitudes toward this problem and provide the basis for regulations, legislation and laws to regulate the use of these drugs.

You will follow the case for this semester, and you should create a file that shows what has happened to date and make entries several times during the course. There are Case Journals in the following weekly modules where you will post weekly with any updates you have.

Analyze the current cases

Determine the Procedural Posture (what’s going on what courts involved)

Facts

Issues of law

Outcomes to date and the ongoing cases

In Module 8, during the last week of the semester, you will present and turn in your final journal regarding these cases.

You should review the facts and issues of law and in your final journal you should speculate about the outcomes of these cases. If the case has not concluded by the end of the semester you should write your decision on how the case will be concluded. Your task is to read about this case and keep a journal until the end of the class and in your final report render a decision as if you are the judge. Determine your personal position and then determine how to influence public policy to comply to your position.

The below will give you a start to understand what has happened to date. Start with the history of the drug and the family/company that pioneered the drugs. Below is a sample of information on the cases but any google search will produce an abundance of information.

https://www.npr.org/2019/05/27/724093091/this-case-will-set-a-precedent-first-major-opioid-trial-to-begin-in-oklahoma

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/26/health/purdue-pharma-oklahoma-opioid-lawsuit-settlement-bn/index.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/in-oklahoma-opioid-case-windfall-starts-winners-squabbling/2019/06/20/92ce0f60-92bb-11e9-b570-6416efdc0803_story.html?noredirect=on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGcKURD_osM

https://fortune.com/2017/09/27/big-pharma-opioid-lawsuits/

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/03/13/702665619/opioid-litigation-brings-company-secrets-into-the-public-eye

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/johnson-johnson-opioid-verdict-company-found-guilty-in-oklahoma-by-district-judge-in-opioid-abuse-lawsuit/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/oklahoma-teva-pharmaceuticals-reach-85-million-settlement-in-opioid-case/2019/05/26/15a70278-7fd1-11e9-933d-7501070ee669_story.html

https://www.apnews.com/db97cb62d659426292112e8ed5f33fb1