Text: “Johnson & Johnson to pay $230m to settle opioid claim”

US drugs giant Johnson & Johnson is to pay $230m (£165m) to settle claims it fuelled an opioid addiction crisis in New York State.

The firm did not admit liability or wrongdoing in settling with the state. The payments remove it from a trial due to begin on Tuesday in which several large opioid makers and distributors are defendants. J&J said the settlements were consistent with a prior agreement to pay $5bn to settle US opioid claims. The settlement with New York State also calls for J&J to stop selling the painkillers nationwide.” https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57628322

Lawsuits and courts are areas that have solid links to November 2021 Prescribed Title #6. Finding “complete certainty” in a court case is fairly rare but legal systems do have standards for what constitutes “certain enough” to find a judgement of guilt. In some systems the level of certainty needs is different for criminal and civil cases and in others defendants are presumed guilty and have to “prove” their innocence.