Opioid Distributors Trial Begins With $95 Billion at Stake (1)

McKesson Corp. and two other drug distributors say they could end up having to pay more than $95 billion if they lose a trial in Seattle over the opioid crisis that began Monday.

Washington State Attorney General Robert Ferguson claims McKesson, Cardinal Health Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp. violated the state’s consumer-protection laws by turning a blind eye to red flags about opioid shipments. The companies failed to have tracking systems in place to prevent illegitimate sales and distribution of opioids as required by Washington’s state law, Ferguson said.

Evidence will show McKesson and the other distributors “displayed a callous ...