Ep. 237 - Understanding Purdue Pharma’s Settlement with Oklahoma

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On March 26, 2019, the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma, a high-profile figure in the Opioid Epidemic, agreed to a $270 Million Opioid Settlement with the State of Oklahoma. The money from this settlement will fund a national addiction research and treatment center in Oklahoma. This is a unique case for several reasons. First, Oklahoma Attorney general Mike Hunter had originally sought $20 Billion in damages. Second, this is the first of more than 1,600 cases against Purdue to settle. Third, the settlement occurred one day after the Oklahoma Supreme Court denied Purdue’s request to delay the trial from its May 28th start date, and the judge had ruled that the trial could be televised. There’s a lot of subtext in a case like this, and it can be difficult to understand the intent behind each parties’ actions. With the help of legal authority Andrew Pollis, Professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, we unravel the deeper meaning behind this key settlement in our struggle against the opioid crisis. Listen to today’s podcast for an expert’s perspective on Purdue Pharma’s Settlement with Oklahoma, joined by Case Western Reserve University School of Law Professor, Andrew Pollis.