Ohio Justices’ Opioid Ruling Shows Deals Were Based on ‘Nothing’

Drug companies have paid billions to settle allegations they contributed to the opioid epidemic based on a legal theory that they contributed to a public nuisance, harming cities, counties, and states—a legal theory that, at least in Ohio, is now considered faulty.

That’s because the Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday likely obliterated a $650 million judgment obtained by two counties against CVS Pharmacy Inc., Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., and Walmart Inc. when it found the public-nuisance claims against the pharmacy megachains weren’t viable.

Per plaintiffs’ lawyers, nearly $60 billion has been spent by major drug manufacturers, distributors, and ...