Spring

'$50bn is pocket change': opioid makers on trial in Ohio after talks collapse

* Cleveland jury to hear claims by thousands of US communities * Opioid epidemic has claimed more than 400,000 livesTablets of opioid painkiller Oxycodon. Photograph: Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty ImagesThe drug industry will go on trial in federal court on Monday, as a jury begins to hear claims by thousands of American communities that pharmaceutical firms collaborated in a conspiracy that drove the US opioid epidemic.The case in Cleveland is the first of a series of trials meant to establish whether opioid makers, drug distributors and pharmacy chains are liable to pay out billions of dollars to thousands of counties, cities and Native American tribes blighted by an epidemic that has claimed more than 400,000 lives over the past two decades.The plaintiffs are using anti-racketeering laws, originally written to go after organised crime, and allegations of creating a public nuisance to claim that manufacturers of narcotic painkillers aggressively drove up sales with knowingly false claims that they were less addictive and more effective than they were, leading to a huge surge in prescribing.They also allege that distributors and pharmacies ignored legal obligations to restrict delivery and dispensing of the drugs even as the death toll escalated, because they were making so much money.“The facts will show that opioid makers and distributors conspired to create and benefit from the worst public health crisis in decades,” the lead lawyers for the plaintiffs said in a statement.> We need hundreds of billions of dollars to deal with this crisis> > Emily Walden, Fed UpAmong companies in the dock are Teva Pharmaceuticals, the world’s largest manufacturer of generic drugs, and the US’s second-largest pharmacy chain, Walgreens. Three major drug distributors are also on trial, including McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, both among the top 10 revenue generating companies in the US.The companies have all denied responsibility.Monday’s trial concerns lawsuits brought by two Ohio counties, Cuyahoga and Summit. If the jury finds the firms are liable and awards damages, the verdict would be put together with other trials in coming months in deciding a comprehensive settlement to cover plaintiffs across the country.Last-minute negotiations to forestall the trial by negotiating an overall settlement of about $50bn collapsed on Friday, in part due to divisions between local governments and several state attorneys general over whether the funds were sufficient to meet the cost of the crisis and who would control them.A new study has found that the epidemic has cost the US more than $800bn in the last four years alone. The Society of Actuaries said the costs ranged from increased health and social care spending to loss of earnings by people who have died and pressure on the criminal justice system.The collapse of the talks was welcomed by advocates who not only want a much larger settlement but also want to see the drug industry exposed at trial. Pharmaceutical companies are pressing for internal documents revealing their decisions and actions to remain secret as part of any settlement.“We need hundreds of billions of dollars to deal with this crisis,” said Emily Walden, chair of the Fed Up coalition of families hit by the epidemic and doctors who have spoken out against the wide prescribing of opioids. “The settlement talks are not holding these companies accountable for what they’ve done. $50bn is pocket change to them.”Several major opioid manufacturers settled the Ohio case in recent weeks, including Johnson & Johnson which lost a major trial in an Oklahoma state court in August when a judge found the company’s drive to sell opioids with false claims caused addiction and death.Opioid makers and distributors have already paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to settle federal cases accusing them of failing to obey laws about cutting off deliveries to pharmacies dispensing suspiciously large amounts of prescription painkillers. But the companies made no admission of liability in paying the settlements.Walden said she wants to see the trial lead to the prosecution of executives responsible for marketing and other strategies that boosted opioid sales.“It’s pretty clear what happened and what they’ve done,” she said. “We need some accountability and it needs to lead to criminal charges. They’re getting away with murder. They’re buying their way out. They think that’s the way of doing business.”There have been some criminal prosecutions.In July, federal prosecutors charged three top executives of the drug distributor Miami-Luken with illegally flooding parts of Appalachia with millions of opioid pills. In May, John Kapoor, the 75-year-old billionaire founder of Insys Therapeutics, was convicted for bribing doctors to prescribe a powerful opioid, Subsys, to patients who did not need it.Separately, Purdue Pharma, maker of the powerful opioid OxyContin, which played a leading part in firing up the epidemic, is negotiating to end hundreds of lawsuits.The company has filed for bankruptcy as part of a proposed agreement that would see it put into a trust and future profits go toward alleviating the epidemic. Members of the Sackler family who own the company would also pay from the personal fortunes they have built from the sale of OxyContin.But the deal is opposed by several state attorneys general who want to see the company put out of business and the Sacklers, who are estimated to have made more than $12bn from opioids, pay more money.

Tornado tears through Dallas, leaving thousands without power

The National Weather Service said the radar-confirmed the tornado hit the ground around 9 p.m. local time near Dallas Love Field Airport, northwest of downtown. The Dallas Independent School District canceled Monday classes at six schools, citing "extensive damage" to a number of campuses due to the severe weather. There were also reports of gas leaks north of Dallas' Walnut Hill neighborhood, according to a press release from the city of Dallas.

NWS confirms a tornado touched down in Dallas

The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down in Dallas on Sunday night, causing structural damage and knocking out electricity to thousands. Meteorologist Jason Godwin said radar confirmed the twister hit the ground near Love Field Airport and moved northeast through the city, at around 9 p.m. There were no reports of fatalities or serious injuries as of 12:20 a.m. Monday, according to a release from the city of Dallas, but Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans says three people were hospitalized for evaluation of non-life-threatening injuries. Most of the damage within Dallas was limited to the northwest, with Evans defining the area as bordered by Royal Lane to the north and Northwest Highway to the south, as well as Harry Hines Boulevard to the west and Interstate 75 to the east.

China seeks $2.4 billion in sanctions against U.S. in Obama-era case: WTO

China is seeking $2.4 billion in retaliatory sanctions against the United States for non-compliance with a WTO ruling in a tariffs case dating to the Obama era, a document published on Monday showed. WTO appeals judges said in July that the United States did not fully comply with a WTO ruling and could face Chinese sanctions if it does not remove tariffs on solar panels, wind towers, steel cylinders and aluminium extrusions.

The Latest: Post-tornado search stalls, no deaths reported

Dallas Fire-Rescue says there have been no reports of fatalities or serious injuries in the aftermath of a Sunday night tornado, but three people were hospitalized for evaluation of non-life-threatening injuries. Spokesman Jason Evans says search teams conducted primary assessments on accessible structures for six hours overnight, but their efforts were "hampered by limited access and lack of proper lighting." A second set of teams will resume search efforts in daylight. Evans says the damage within Dallas is limited to an area bordered by Royal Lane to the north and Northwest Highway to the south, as well as Harry Hines Boulevard to the west and Interstate 75 to the east — essentially, northwest Dallas.

‘Despair’: Hundreds of inmates serving life for crimes as juveniles waiting for resentencing

In 1996, Clifton Gibson was tried and convicted of first degree murder. It was a crime he committed two years earlier at the age of 17 -- killing a man during a robbery -- and one for which he takes full responsibility. It was also a crime for which he received life without parole, plus 18 years and 4 months.

Say namaste to neck pain and improve your posture with these 6 super easy yoga poses

Whether it’s due to their work for acting roles, their workouts, or their practice, one thing’s for sure: many of them don’t struggle with poor posture due to being sedentary or stuck being seated at a desk from 9 to 5 Monday through Friday like most of us. As a certified yoga instructor, I turn to yoga to help with posture and issues like neck pain. The relaxation and clear-mindedness felt after a great yoga class is amazing.

How to make an awesome cheese board

When it comes to a party, you'll find us by the cheese board. A stellar cheese board is the star of any party. Murphy, who is a regular judge on "Chopped" and recently hosted the 12th annual New York City Wine & Food Festival, said the most important factors are quality and variety.

These candy spoons make eating twice as fun

These candy spoons make eating twice as fun originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.comTie dye candy spoons are an easy DIY to sweeten any food you eat with a spoon.It's a great item to stick in a kid's lunch box or give to your friends.In just four easy steps you'll have fun edible spoons.1. What you'll needMaking candy spoons is super simple -- it's a craft you can do by yourself or with younger kids. Different colored candy melts Silicon spoon mold (We got ours from Pampered Chef.) Microwavable bowlsFor extra fun choose the colors of candy melts based on the holiday or occasion. ...

Halloween spending expected to reach an un-BOO-lievable $8.8 billion in 2019

This Halloween, beware of how the holiday will hit your wallet. Halloween spending is projected to reach $8.8 billion this year, with each shopper spending an average of $86.27 on the holiday, according to a report from theNational Retail Federation. A much smaller amount -- $390 million -- will be spent on seasonal greeting cards.

Provocative, voyeuristic and a little naughty: The event you can’t miss on Halloween

Part of the annual event Creep L.A., Haus of Creep features a new storyline with more than a dozen interactive installations and 20 spooky characters. "Haus of Creep is an open-world experience that kind of came out of the idea of Instagrammable culture and what happens to us when we are consuming things at such a rapid pace, that idea of always [being] on," said Kristin Childers, a producer with Just Fix It Productions, which created the Haus of Creep experience. "With the growing popularity of 'grammable museums,' businesses and consumers are devouring art as a commodity," it says on the website for Creep L.A.

Spain to exhume Franco's remains Thursday

The Spanish government says it will exhume and relocate the remains of late military dictator Gen. Francisco Franco on Thursday. In a statement Monday, the government said the remains would be taken from the grandiose mausoleum at the Valley of the Fallen complex outside Madrid and taken to a discreet grave close to the capital by helicopter. The procedure was authorized after the Supreme Court recently dismissed the objections by Franco's family.

GSK to sell two vaccines in $1.1 billion deal to focus on newer treatments

The sale of anti-rabies treatment Rabipur and Encepur, used for the prevention of tick-borne encephalitis, to the Denmark-based biotechnology firm includes an upfront payment of 301 million euros and milestone payments of up to 495 million euros. Chief Executive Officer Emma Walmsley has been pushing for a leaner structure since she took over in 2017 by spinning off or selling units to focus on reinvigorating GSK's pharmaceuticals business. It staged a comeback into cancer treatments with a $5.1 billion buyout of U.S. drugmaker Tesaro in December last year.