Courts have hesitated to move to virtual settings, in large part because the scale of the opioid litigation — thought to be the most complex in U.S. history — makes it difficult to hold a trial by video conference. The city of Huntington and Cabell County in West Virginia, concerned that delays would continue as long as the virus was rampant, pushed to move the trial to a video option but didn’t succeed.
Trial in West Virginia opioid lawsuit postponed indefinitely
A federal judge in West Virginia has indefinitely postponed a trial date in a lawsuit filed by the city of Huntington and Cabell County over the opioid crisis.
Johnson & Johnson, three other companies close in on $26 billion deal on opioid litigation
“There is no vaccine to a lifetime of opioid addiction,” said Farrell, who helped initiate the litigation from his home base in Huntington, W.Va., one of the epicenters of the crisis. “We still have an underlying opioid epidemic that has been exacerbated by the covid outbreak.”
$26 Billion Settlement Offer in Opioid Lawsuits “Not Enough” for WV
The lead lawyer, Paul T. Farrell, Jr. has not agreed to the offer. “West Virginia fully supports the national settlement on behalf of every other state,” said Mr. Farrell, who represents numerous West Virginia small governments. “It’s just not good enough for us.”
Opioid Trial Delayed Again Due to COVID-19 Concerns
Paul Farrell Jr. is one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs. He says he feels like they could have held the trial this month safely.
“We feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football,” Farrell said. “Obviously we respect the COVID epidemic, but we should fear the opioid epidemic. There are still people suffering and dying every day in West Virginia.”
States Seek $26.4 Billion From Drug Companies in Opioid Litigation
This article was originally published in The Wall Street Journal. Higher settlement demand comes as trial dates in Ohio and West Virginia add urgency to talks
$10 Million Medical Malpractice Verdict
Riggs v. West Virginia University Health
The Tribune: $1.25B West Virginia Opioid Settlement Trial Date Set
This article was originally published in The Tribune.
From ABC News: $1.25B West Virginia opioid settlement trial date set
West Virginia communities seeking a $1.25 billion settlement with the opioid industry are set to go on trial against the companies in late August
KOB4 Eyewitness News: $1.25B West Virginia Opioid Settlement Trial Date Set
This article was originally published in KOB4 Eyewitness News.