Jury Verdict and City Response
A jury found McKesson and liable for contributing to the city's opioid epidemic, awarding $266 million in damages.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott hailed the verdict as a step towards healing, stating the funds will support initiatives to combat the epidemic's impact on the community.
Defense Arguments and Epidemic Impact
Defense lawyers argued that cartels, gangs, and doctors prescribing painkillers were to blame for the opioid crisis, not the distributors.
The reports 80,000 annual opioid overdose deaths, with Baltimore facing a disproportionately high number of over two overdose deaths per day.