Johnson & Johnson, one of the world's largest drug manufacturers, has gone on trial in a multi-billion dollar lawsuit by the US state of Oklahoma.
Prosecutors accuse the firm of deceptively marketing painkillers and downplaying addiction risks, fuelling a so-called "opioid epidemic".
Johnson & Johnson denies wrongdoing and says it marketed products responsibly.
It is the first of 2,000 cases brought by state, local and tribal governments against pharmaceutical firms in the US.
On average, 130 Americans die from an opioid overdose every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In 2017, of the 70,200 people who died from overdose, 68% involved a prescription or illegal opioid.
Johnson & Johnson produces a fentanyl patch which can be prescribed for severe pain.
Fentanyl belongs to a class of drugs known as opioid analgesics, which change how the body feels and responds to pain. It is also used as a recreational drug, often mixed with heroin and cocaine.
In its court filing, Oklahoma alleged that Johnson & Johnson was the "kingpin" behind "the worst man-made public health crisis in [the] state's history," growing and importing raw materials which other drug-makers used for their own products.
The state argues that Johnson & Johnson created a public nuisance which will cost between $12.7bn (£10.02bn) and $17.5bn (£13.8bn) to remedy over the next 20 to 30 years.
But Johnson & Johnson argues that the public nuisance law does not apply in this instance.
This is the latest in a string of legal cases against painkiller manufacturers over prescription drugs.
Earlier this month, Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed to an $85m (£67m) settlement with Oklahoma over a similar lawsuit which claimed its opioids had contributed to the deaths of thousands of people.
Drugmaker Purdue Pharma - which produces the prescription painkiller OxyContin - also reached a $270m settlement with Oklahoma in a separate case. The wealthy Sackler family, which owns the firm, has been charged with fraudulently transferring money from the company to protect its funds from litigation.
Latest Stories
-
IES calls for immediate removal of Matthew Opoku Prempeh over deteriorating energy crisis
26 mins -
GFA reschedule selected MD 28 fixtures to ensure maximum support for Dreams FC
28 mins -
A new financing model for SHS will leverage private sector to finance infrastructure – Bawumia to CHASS
30 mins -
Earth Day: CCCFS promotes adoption of ceramics to fight plastic pollution
55 mins -
Ten dead as navy helicopters collide mid-air in Malaysia
2 hours -
Kwadaso Onion Market: Traders relocated over security concerns
2 hours -
Organise your dumsor demo, we’ll choose who to partner for ours – Franklin Cudjoe tells Yvonne Nelson
2 hours -
Government to consolidate cash waterfall revenue collection accounts
2 hours -
‘Otumfuor is one of Kotoko’s biggest issues’ – Nana Agyemang
2 hours -
Bawumia travels to Italy and Vatican State
2 hours -
Bellingham wins Laureus Breakthrough award
3 hours -
2024 polls: Haruna Iddrisu predicts NDC victory in all 11 Upper West parliamentary seats
3 hours -
GPL: Berekum Chelsea beat Medeama to go fifth
3 hours -
Debt Restructuring: Government to reach agreement with IPPs in May
3 hours -
It’s time for Ghana to move from NPP and NDC – Abu Sakara insists
3 hours