Fears Nachawati’s Jonathan Novak is leading a series of webinars providing a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in state and federal opioid litigation.
A former DEA lawyer who investigated the role of large pharmaceutical companies in the spread of highly addictive prescription opioids, Mr. Novak is a key member of Fears Nachawati’s opioid litigation team in state and federal litigation. The firm is actively representing states, regional governments and other parties that have been ravaged by the epidemic of opioid addiction.
The series of four weekly webinars is designed to provide an overview of the latest developments and status of the epic litigation, including progress on a proposed global settlement of federal multidistrict litigation, as well as separate programs highlighting the specific exposure for different groups of defendants, including manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies.
Mr. Novak said negotiations over the global settlement are progressing as the diverse group of plaintiffs – from states to local governments and regional hospitals and other parties – work to ensure that all voices are heard. While the global settlement would resolve thousands of lawsuits that are part of federal multidistrict litigation, a separate MDL in Texas state court continues on a separate track with tentative trial dates within the next year. Even with a global settlement reportedly close to agreement, Mr. Novak predicts that it will take at least another three years to resolve all of the legal claims against multiple parties.