Okla. Judge Orders J&J, Janssen to Pay State $572 Million in Landmark Opioid Case

OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma judge has ordered Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen to pay $572 million to the State of Oklahoma, finding they aggressively marketed opioids to healthcare providers in order to increase sales, causing a statewide addiction epidemic.

In a decision issued Aug. 26 following a seven-week bench trial, Judge Thad Balkman of the Cleveland County (Okla.) District Court said the drug makers violated state Medicaid, consumer protection, public nuisance and fraud laws.

Co-defendants Purdue Pharma and Teva Pharmaceutical each settled with Oklahoma earlier this year, with Purdue paying $270 million and Teva paying $85 million …