Judge cuts Baltimore's latest opioid settlement down by millions

By Matt Bush,

Published June 13, 2025 at 12:01 PM EDT

FILE - A number of 5-mg pills of Oxycodone are displayed on June 17, 2019. Data released Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, shows that the number of prescription pills shipped in the U.S. continued to decline through the end of the 2010s, even as the overdose crisis deepened due to illicit opioids. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File) — FILE - A number of 5-mg pills of Oxycodone are displayed on June 17, 2019.

Yesterday, a Baltimore City judge ruled that a multi-million-dollar award in the opioid settlement trial must be significantly reduced, or the city can seek a retrial for damages.

Mayor Brandon Scott acknowledged the much-awaited verdict was "disappointing" and said the city is "evaluating the decision" and exploring all options moving forward.

WYPR Health Reporter Scott Maucione joins the show to give more details on the verdict.

Tags

Matt Bush

Matt Bush spent 14 years in public radio prior to coming to WYPR as news director in October 2022. From 2008 to 2016, he worked at Washington D.C.’s NPR affiliate, WAMU, where he was the station’s Maryland reporter. He covered the Maryland General Assembly for six years (alongside several WYPR reporters in the statehouse radio bullpen) as well as both Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. <a href="https://twitter.com/MattBushMD">@MattBushMD</a>

See stories by Matt Bush

Teria Rogers

Teria is a Supervising Producer on Midday.

See stories by Teria Rogers

Sam Bermas-Dawes

Sam Bermas-Dawes is a producer for Midday.

See stories by Sam Bermas-Dawes