Oklahoma judge holds J&J liable in opioid epidemic, orders $572 million damages

(Reuters) - An Oklahoma judge on Monday found Johnson & Johnson liable for fuelling an opioid epidemic in the state by deceptively marketing painkillers, and ordered the drugmaker to pay damages of $572 million (465.9 million pounds).Judge Thad Balkman of Cleveland County District Court in Norman, Oklahoma delivered his decision in a lawsuit alleging that J&J's marketing practices fuelled the opioid epidemic by flooding the market with painkillers.Shares of J&J rose 5% following the verdict.The..