Ohio Supreme Court Blocks Counties' Opioid Lawsuit

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the state's product liability law bars counties from pursuing public nuisance claims against national pharmaceutical companies, potentially overturning a $650 million judgment awarded to Lake and Trumbull counties. The justices unanimously interpreted the Ohio Product Liability Act, asserting it was designed to eliminate all common law product liability claims, including those seeking equitable relief for public nuisances. This decision stems from a lawsuit against CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart, which initially resulted in a significant damages award for the counties in 2022. Justice Joseph Deters stated that the court must interpret the law as written, regardless of personal policy preferences. While two Democratic justices disagreed on a specific point, they concurred with the ruling's overall direction. The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to act on this opinion, likely leading to the reversal of the prior judgment.