Across the nation, all eyes are on the status of the many lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. In recent weeks, there have been big settlements in some states and complete dismissal in others.

Locally, litigation pursued by Anne Arundel County in state court against the big industry players and local prescribers hit a speed bump when the judge dismissed the charges against the doctors on what can be described as a technicality.

From The Capital Gazette:

Judge Ronald Silkworth ruled May 28 the county should have complied with the Maryland Health Care Malpractice Claims Act. Instead of taking the doctors to court, the county should have filed a claim with the Health Claims Arbitration Dispute Resolution Office, Silkworth wrote.

The article notes that the county opposed the motion to dismiss and is considering its options moving forward. The motion does not impact the county’s case against the manufacturers and distributors.

Read the full article in The Capital Gazette to learn more.

Related articles:

Purdue Pharma Settles Opioid Lawsuit with Oklahoma Attorney General (Conduit Street)

Anne Arundel Files Lawsuit Against Opioid Industry Players (Conduit Street)

Opioid Lawsuit ‘Oversimplifies the Problem,’ Rules North Dakota Judge (Governing)