HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Mayor Steve Williams describes himself as “deeply disappointed” with U.S. District Judge David Faber’s ruling in the 2021 federal opioid epidemic trial.
Faber released his detailed decision Monday evening. He found in favor of the “Big 3” distributors AmeriSource Bergen, McKesson and Cardinal Health. Faber ruled the plaintiffs, Huntington and Cabell County, should receive no damages. They were seeking $2.5 billion in damages.
Williams, during an appearance Monday on MetroNews “Talkline,” said he fundamentally disagrees with the judge’s decision, which came nearly a year after the conclusion of the trial, but it doesn’t mean the fight is over.
“Doggone right I’m angry about it but I’m more determined than I am angry,” Williams said. “I’m disappointed with the judgment that was rendered but I’m more determined than ever.”
MORE reports of possible settlement in similar case involving counties, cities and towns.
One of the defendants, Cardinal Health, released a statement Tuesday.
“We applaud the Court’s ruling, which recognizes what we demonstrated in court, which is that we do not manufacture, market, or prescribe prescription medications but instead only provide a secure channel to deliver medications of all kinds from manufacturers to our thousands of hospital and pharmacy customers that dispense them to their patients based on doctor-ordered prescriptions,” the company said. “As we continue to fulfill our limited role in the pharmaceutical supply chain, we operate a constantly adaptive and rigorous system to combat controlled substance diversion and remain committed to being part of the solution to the opioid crisis.
The federal judge in the opioid trial ruled in favor of the three drug wholesalers in the trial. What is @HuntingtonMayor reaction to this verdict? Mayor Williams joins @HoppyKercheval. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nDJuy pic.twitter.com/3LYN2cH36r
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) July 5, 2022
Faber said Cabell-Huntington, among other things, failed to prove that the distributors created a public nuisance with their actions and failed to prove the three interfered with the public good.
Williams said he had yet to speak to his legal team as of Tuesday morning but felt confident the fight was not over.
“We will carry on. We will figure out the next step and we will move forward,” Williams said.
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Eric Eyre said Cabell-Huntington shouldn’t be surprised with Faber’s decision.
“He sent many signals during the trial about his questioning this public nuisance theory, questioning the number of pills that were sent to Cabell County,” Eyre said. “They had a full year to settle but instead they rolled the dice, they said it wasn’t enough money, and here we are.”
Cabell-Huntington wanted $2.5 billion in a settlement amount, Eyre said.
“That was just never going to happen,” he said.
What is @EricEyre reaction to the opioid trial verdict where a federal judge ruled in favor of three drug wholesalers in a trial related to the opioid crisis. Eric provides his insight to @HoppyKercheval. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nDJuy pic.twitter.com/v62Kr23sgh
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) July 5, 2022
Eyre added the Cabell-Huntington case was weakened by the fact there were no pill mills in either the county or city.
“The judge cited that. There was no evidence that any of the Big 3 distributors sent any pills to any pill mill,” Eyre said.