LAS VEGAS (AP) — The lawyer leading Nevada's effort to win damages from opioid manufacturers accused of fueling the nation's addiction crisis predicts that companies could be on the hook for judgments in the billions of dollars if cases go before juries.
Attorney Robert Eglet pointed Wednesday to a $572 million judgment the state of Oklahoma won on Monday against drugmaker Johnson & Johnson in a case heard by a judge.
Nearly every U.S. state and some 2,000 local governments have lawsuits pending against dozens of drugmakers and distributors including Purdue Pharma, maker of Oxycontin.
In a statement, Purdue said Wednesday it's prepared to defend itself but hopes to avoid years of litigation by reaching an umbrella settlement.
Eglet represents the state of Nevada; Clark County; Reno; North Las Vegas; Henderson; and Las Vegas.
