By Hailey Konnath

Pharmacy benefit managers Optum and Express Scripts say the Ohio federal judge overseeing multidistrict opioid litigation should recuse himself because he "regularly communicates" with plaintiffs' attorneys in the litigation and is biased in favor of plaintiffs, according to a motion filed Wednesday.

By David Minsky

A Florida state appellate court on Wednesday ruled that a Miami substance abuse treatment facility owed a duty of care to an involuntarily committed patient who was discharged for rule violations and later died of an overdose, finding the manner in which he was released went against regulations.

By Jennifer Mandato

Rulings barring supermarket chain Publix and drugmaker Mallinckrodt from obtaining coverage for underlying opioid claims have contributed to insurers' continued success in defining their obligations to these claims while raising the question of whether insurance is intended to help protect against widespread societal harm.

By Bonnie Eslinger

An Ohio federal judge overseeing multidistrict opioid litigation denied Albertsons Cos.' request to appeal its summary judgment loss in the bellwether case brought by a Texas county, saying Wednesday that since pretrial proceedings are now done, the appeal should head to the appellate court for the Lone Star State.

By Hayley Fowler

A 72-year-old doctor in North Carolina was sentenced Friday to two and a half years in prison and ordered to hand over $2 million in restitution for a fraudulent billing scheme involving medically unnecessary drug tests, prosecutors said.