There are new developments in the nationwide opioid litigation. The National Association of Colored People says it wants a seat at the table during settlement talks to make sure communities of color are represented—and eventually receive a fair share of any pay out. Specifically, the NAACP seeks to participate in the bankruptcy case against Purdue Pharma, one of several opioid manufacturers being sued for their alleged role in fueling the opioid epidemic.
Talks are underway in the Purdue cases, which are among thousands of lawsuits against manufacturers, drug distributors and pharmacy chains. The NAACP says Black communities have been left out of the talks, although they suffered from drug addiction and the lack of available treatment because the opioid epidemic is largely perceived as a crisis in white, rural and suburban America—although it is a national problem.
Meanwhile, the judge in Cleveland who is overseeing the cases brought by two Ohio counties has rejected a bid by pharmaceutical chains to toss the cases. The counties claim that chains including Walgreens and Ride Aid flooded their areas with nearly 130 million prescription painkillers between 2000 and 2014—or roughly 260 pills in one county and 320 in another. The judge is responsible for more than 2,000 lawsuits filed by local governments, tribal authorities and other others against the opioid industry.