Opioids - The Indiana Lawyer

Courts as conveners: Task force led by Rush releases recommendations for judicial response to opioid crisis

December 11, 2019 | Olivia Covington

The National Judicial Opioid Task Force was created in 2017 to delve into ways the judiciary could get a handle on the opioid crisis. Co-chaired by Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush, the task force’s work culminated late last month in the release of a report that includes four findings and six recommendations for how courts can respond to the current drug scourge and be better prepared for the next addiction crisis.

US Supreme Court rejects Arizona opioid case

December 10, 2019 | Associated Press

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a request by Arizona’s attorney general to force the Sackler family, which owns OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma, to return billions of dollars they took out of the company.

Reasonable suspicion of drug activity prompts reversal in suppression case

October 30, 2019 | Katie Stancombe

The Indiana Court of Appeals on Wednesday reversed suppression of drug evidence in a man’s parole violation case that was found during a search of a rented storage unit.

Prosecutions fizzle in ‘pill mill’ case but suits proceed

October 30, 2019 | Marilyn Odendahl

Physicians and staff who were arrested and charged after Indiana and federal law enforcement officials claimed their medical practice was a pill mill are headed to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals as they push forward with a civil lawsuit claiming their prosecution was built on allegations the government knew were false.

Majority justices remand Land Rover forfeiture case for excessiveness analysis

October 28, 2019 | Olivia Covington

An Indiana civil forfeiture case that made its way to the United States Supreme Court will now return to the Grant Superior Court after the Indiana Supreme Court developed a framework for determining if the forfeiture of property is excessive under the Eighth Amendment.

Former retreat now addiction center in southern Indiana

October 28, 2019 | Associated Press

A former corporate retreat near Henryville in southern Indiana has reopened as a drug addiction treatment center. The Wooded Glen Recovery Center started taking patients during September. Community leaders joined executives of treatment provider Summit BHC for an opening ceremony this past week.

Man’s drug convictions tossed for speedy trial rule violation

October 23, 2019 | Dave Stafford

A man who was convicted of drug-dealing charges and sentenced to 12 years in prison won a reversal Wednesday because his trial was wrongly continued when the state could not timely produce lab results. The appellate court noted a lengthy prosecutorial delay in providing the evidence for lab testing was to blame.

Indiana sues distributors in opioid epidemic

October 22, 2019 | Marilyn Odendahl

One day after three opioid distributors reached a $260 million tentative settlement with two Ohio counties, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill filed a lawsuit also seeking damages from the same three companies, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp., Cardinal Health and McKesson Corp.

$260 million deal averts first federal opioid crisis trial

October 21, 2019 | Associated Press

The nation’s three biggest drug distributors and a major drugmaker reached an 11th-hour, $260 million settlement over the toll of the opioids in two Ohio counties, averting what would have been the first federal trial over the crisis.

Companies reach tentative deal to settle opioids lawsuit

October 21, 2019 | Associated Press

The nation’s three dominant drug distributors and a big drugmaker have reached a tentative deal to settle a lawsuit related to the opioid crisis just as the first federal trial over the crisis was due to begin Monday in Cleveland, according to a lead lawyer for the local governments suing the drug industry.

Jury seated in first federal opioid trial, but settlement talks go on

October 18, 2019 | Associated Press

A jury was seated Thursday in Cleveland for the first federal trial on the opioid crisis, but the push to settle the case before opening arguments next week continued, with company officials expected to gather for further talks. Published reports said officials were negotiating a potential $50 billion settlement.

Prosecutor: Dealing resulting in death charge targets violence, addictions

October 17, 2019 | Olivia Covington

As Marion County files its first charge of drug dealing resulting in death, Prosecutor Ryan Mears said the new law is another tool to help combat violent crime and drug addiction across Indianapolis.

New study: Opioid crisis cost US economy $631B over 4 years

October 16, 2019 | Associated Press

The opioid crisis cost the U.S. economy $631 billion from 2015 through last year — and it may keep getting more expensive, according to a study released Tuesday by the Society of Actuaries.

Supreme Court releases 2019 annual report

September 19, 2019 | IL Staff

The Indiana Supreme Court has released its annual report, revealing details from the 870 cases it reviewed during the past fiscal year, as well updates on its attempts to address Indiana’s opioid crisis, and its milestones of certifying 100 problem-solving courts and wrapping up the rollout of statewide electronic filing.

Indiana joins states seeking to settle with Purdue Pharma

September 18, 2019 | Marilyn Odendahl

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is among the 29 attorneys general across the country backing a proposed settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, calling the agreement a “significant breakthrough in our important fight against the opioid crisis.”

Purdue University: School has no connection to Purdue Pharma

September 4, 2019 | Associated Press

Purdue University wants the public to know that it has no connection to a company that’s negotiating a potential multi-billion-dollar settlement after being blamed for helping drive the nation’s opioid crisis.

State health department receiving $21M grant to combat drug overdoses

September 4, 2019 | Lindsey Erdody and Indianapolis Business Journal Staff

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded the Indiana State Department of Health a three-year, $21 million grant to help prevent and detect drug overdoses.

Rush plans to further initiatives in second term

September 4, 2019 | Olivia Covington

Ask the justices how they would describe the last five years at the Indiana Supreme Court, and they’ll tell you they’ve seen some changes. There’s been an internal reorganization, a major technology initiative and a national drug crisis to contend with, but they think their institution has successfully charted its path.

Reports: OxyContin maker negotiating possible $12B settlement

August 28, 2019 | Associated Press

Purdue Pharma and the thousands of state and local governments suing the maker of OxyContin over the nation’s deadly opioid crisis are negotiating a $10 billion to $12 billion settlement under which the Sackler family would give up ownership of the company, according to published reports.

Judge orders opioid maker to pay $572 million in landmark opioid lawsuit

August 27, 2019 | Associated Press and IL Staff

An Oklahoma judge on Monday found Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries helped fuel the state’s opioid crisis and ordered the consumer products giant to pay $572 million, more than twice the amount another drug manufacturer agreed to pay in a settlement.

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