Page 3 - Rusty Webb News Today

CHARLESTON — A small group of West Virginia counties and schools are suing an e-cigarette powerhouse in hopes of slowing the trend of kids vaping.

Attorney Paul Farrell Jr. speaks July 28 after the conclusion of the federal opioid trial. | Brittany Hively CHARLESTON – Attorneys for Cardinal Health and McKesson presented closing arguments in hope of convincing U.S. District Judge David Faber the distribution companies should not be held liable for any part in the opioid epidemic.  Faber is overseeing the bellwether federal bench trial where the City of Huntington and Cabell County filed suit against three pharmac...

Today Partly cloudy early. Thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 86F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 71F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Updated: July 11, 2021 @ 7:14 am

Timothy Deer CHARLESTON – Tables turned as an expert witness for Cardinal Health had his professional reputation challenged during his testimony at the bellwether federal opioid trial.  Enu Mainigi, representing Cardinal Health, called local physician Timothy Deer as an expert in pain management and the standard of care for pain management.  Deer testified that he was asked to look at the standard care in West Virginia between 1994 and 2021, the change of opioid pres...

CHARLESTON – As they began arguing their case, the three drug distributor defendants in the bellwether federal trial continued to rest blame on others for fueling the opioid epidemic. After more than six weeks of testimony, the City of Huntington and Cabell County rested their case July 1. That meant defendants AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson started arguing the companies’ side July 2.  Huntington and Cabell County sued the distribution companies in 2017, seeking the partie...

CHARLESTON – Three of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical distribution companies pushed for a trial dismissal as the plaintiffs wrapped up their case at the bellwether federal opioid trial. During a day of motions July 1, the drug distributors maintained the plaintiffs continuously have failed to give substantial evidence of misconduct.  The City of Huntington and Cabell County sued the distribution companies –AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson Corp – in 2017, seeking the ...

Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (left) leaves the courthouse with City Communications Director Bryan Chambers and attorney Rusty Webb. | Photo by Brittany Hively CHARLESTON – Wrapping up the plaintiffs case, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams provided emotional testimony detailing his experience in handling the opioid epidemic. “We had individuals saying we were the epicenter of the opioid epidemic and that smacked me in the center,” Williams said during his sometimes...

shutterstock.com CHARLESTON – An abatement expert says the total cost for such a plan for Cabell County and Huntington to deal with the opioid epidemic would be at least $2.5 billion. On June 28, attorney Anthony Majestro, representing Cabell County, called George A. Barrett, an expert witness in the field of forensic economics. Barrett said he was asked to calculate the value of total cost of an abatement plan being composed by a group of epidemiologists. That cost wo...

CHARLESTON – Testifying in the bellwether opioid trial, a expert witness on pharmaceutical-related abatement programs said he does not believe Cabell County has sufficient treatment programs to fight the opioid epidemic.   The City of Huntington and Cabell County sued three of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical distribution companies – AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson Corp. – in 2017 claiming the companies are largely responsible for fueling the current opioid epidemic ...

CHARLESTON – An expert epidemio​​​​logist who analyzed Cabell County and West Virginia overdose data to show opioid trends in death rates soared from 2001 to 2017.