Trial testimony in the high-profile case involving Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Oklahoma state over the ravages of the opioid crisis ended on Monday.
Following eight weeks of testimony, attorneys representing the state and the pharmaceutical giant have made their final arguments in a historic bench trial. During the trial, J&J argued for an early win claiming that the state failed to produce enough evidence to support its case, whereas the state compared the defendants to 'kingpin' for fuelling the U.S. opioid epidemic. J&J had filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in the early weeks of the month, which was later dismissed by Oklahoma District Judge Thad Balkman. The state urged Judge Thad Balkman, to find J&J liable for the epidemic and force it to pay up to $17 billion over 30 years.
Judge Balkman affirmed that he would rule after receiving briefs from both sides due July 31.
U.S. District Judge Dan Polster is presiding over all opioid lawsuits consolidated under MDL No. 2804 (In Re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation).
