The state of Oklahoma’s lawsuit against opioid manufacturers is returning to state court.
Defendants had the case moved to federal court, saying the state is asking them to make different disclosures to the public than required by federal law. But U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange in Oklahoma City ruled Friday that the lawsuit does not "necessarily raise" a federal issue.
State’s lead counsel Mike Burrage said if the case had stayed in federal court, Oklahoma’s lawsuit would have been lumped in with several others from around the U.S.
"We would rather for Oklahomans to decide these cases rather than some federal judge in Columbus, Ohio," Burrage said.
Oklahoma alleges the drug makers are responsible for more than $1 billion in damages because deceptive marketing practices led to opioid addictions and overdoses.
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter said his concern now focuses on cities and counties pursuing their own actions and not benefiting from the work his office has put into the case.
"We’ve been working on this case for now 13, 14 months. There’ve been literally thousands of man hours that have gone into developing our damage model," Hunter said.
Oklahoma City and Osage County are moving ahead with their own actions. Tulsa County is considering its options.
