Two drug companies must pay $260 million after jurors found them liable for the city's opioid crisis

BALTIMORE — Two pharmaceutical companies must pay Baltimore City more than $260 million in damages after a jury found them liable Tuesday for contributing to the city's opioid crisis, The Baltimore Banner confirmed.

The jury's deliberations began on Friday, November 8, and concluded on Tuesday afternoon.

After a six-week trial, the jury decided that drug distributors McKesson and AmerisourceBergen would split the $266 million payment.

During the trial, the city's lawyers argued that the two companies were more focused on profit than public health, claiming the companies shipped millions of opioid pills into the city while ignoring their addictive properties.

The city argued that the oversupply of pills led residents to turn to stronger drugs like fentanyl and heroin.

The companies, however, argued that they were acting within their rights by selling approved painkillers to licensed pharmacies. During the trial, both companies denied any responsibility for an illegal drug trade.

City lawyers previously called this case the largest and most important in Baltimore history, The Baltimore Banner reported.