NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — A judge has ruled that Oklahoma's multibillion dollar lawsuit against opioid producers will proceed.
Pharmaceutical companies had argued that the state tried to misuse public nuisance laws. The Oklahoman reports that Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman on Monday rejected that claim.
Trial is scheduled to start May 28.
The maker of OxyContin and the company's controlling family agreed in March to pay Oklahoma a groundbreaking $270 million to settle allegations that they helped create the nation's deadly opioid crisis with aggressive marketing.
The settlement resulted in bipartisan criticism from state lawmakers who say Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter overstepped his authority in allocation of funds.
Hunter subsequently dropped some claims in the state's lawsuit against other drugmakers in an effort to recover the cost of opioid abuse.