The opioid crisis has dominated the 24-hour news cycle for the past four years. While the crack epidemic was covered by the media as akin to black pathology and personal weaknesses, the opioid crisis has been characterized as a medical problem requiring treatment and prevention. Opioid manufacturers like Endo International (ENDP) and Teva (TEVA) still face thousands of opioid lawsuits. Things may have changed, however. Last week Judge Peter J. Wilson ruled opioid manufacturers in California were not liable for the opioid crisis. Earlier this week an Oklahoma court reversed a $465 million opioid ruling against Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). This could have major implications pursuant to future litigation for Endo, Teva, JNJ or other opioid manufacturers.
Oddly enough, state AGs nor the corporate media is talking about the two rulings. A few states – Georgia, Alabama, Nevada, West Virginia, Washington, Oklahoma and New Mexico – did not fully-sign onto the $26 billion global opioid settlement offered earlier this summer. Those states stand to lose over $1 billion in combined funds now that judges in Oklahoma and California have ruled against plaintiffs in the opioid litigation. I spoke to future Georgia Governor Al Bartell about the situation and he too believes Georgia fumbled the opioid bag.
Bartell believes Georgia opted out of the $26 billion opioid deal because of “states rights,” and the desire for Georgia AG Chris Carr and the state to avoid the federal government telling them what to do. I found that to be an interesting take from a someone on the grassroots level. The future governor hales from Hagerstown, MD and has spent his career in public service. During the ’80s Mr. Bartell was instrumental in violence prevention in Washington, D.C. He worked with young black men in preventing violence in the city and also helped build community-based programs pursuant to public service.
Mr. Bartell has also worked on planning initiatives in Georgia pursuant to transportation and other public policy initiatives. He will appear on Trump And The GE Monday to discuss his candidacy for governor and how Georgia fumbled the opioid bag. Foregoing hundreds of millions of dollars that could have been used to fund treatment and prevention services for those addicted to opioids appears to be a big deal. Meanwhile, state AGs like Letitia James (New York), Dave Yost (Ohio) and Ken Paxton (Texas) are gallivanting around their respective states handing out opioid checks.
That said, Mr. Bartell is only politician who has been able to connect the dots and speak cogently about the situation. Georgia governor Brian Kemp, Attorney General Christopher Carr, and other state politicians like Herschel Walker, Ralphael Warnock and Stacey Abrams have been totally silent on the most-important campaign issue facing Georgia. If garnering over $1 billion in opioid funds can make New York AG Letitia James a candidate for governor of New York then the opposite is also true – fumbling the opioid bag could trigger regime change in Georgia. Mr. Bartell’s grasp of this issue – and others – could make him Georgia’s next governor. Mr. Bartell will appear on Trump And The GE Monday afternoon to tell us more about it. Stay tuned …
