The trial was supposed to be a bellwether for more than 2,600 lawsuits brought by cities, counties, states and other governments against opioid manufacturers and distributors. (Photo: Amanda Bronstad)
About 60 lawyers in Cleveland hammered out a last-minute settlement on the eve of the first jury trial over the opioid crisis arriving bleary-eyed on what would have been opening statements on Monday.
"It was a late night," said Paul Hanly of New York's Simmons Hanly Conroy, outside the courtroom after the judge dismissed the case on Monday morning in light of the settlement. He negotiated the deal with Joe Rice, of Motley Rice, and Paul Farrell of Greene Ketchum, Farrell, Bailey & Tweel in Huntington, West Virginia. All three are co-lead counsel of the multidistrict litigation over the opioid crisis.
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Alaina Lancaster
Alaina Lancaster, based in San Francisco, covers disruptive trends and technologies shaping the future of law. She authors the weekly legal futurist newsletter What's Next. Contact her at [email protected]. On Twitter: @a_lancaster3
