Johnson & Johnson To Pay Orange County Up To $3 Million

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay Orange County up to $3 million following the deaths of many Hudson Valley residents.

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Orange County will receive a minimum of $1,292,727.87 as part of a statewide settlement of claims against Johnson & Johnson/Janssen with the potential to receive as much as $3,016,936.42 if counties across New York State also settle their cases with Johnson & Johnson.

County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus directed the County Attorney in late 2016 to take steps to sue various opioid manufacturers/distributors. Orange County became the fourth of New York’s 57 counties (outside of New York City) to commence action against opioid manufacturers in May of 2017, joining with Suffolk, Erie and Broome counties.

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The funding, when finalized, will largely be directed to fighting opioid abuse, officials say.

“Opioid manufacturers and distributors knowingly allowed people to become addicted to their drugs, causing rather than reducing pain to families, communities, and the patients themselves,” Neuhaus said. “These funds will not bring back loved ones lost to the opioid epidemic but will hopefully assist others in getting help with their opioid addictions.”

The funding is part of a $98 million settlement that Johnson & Johnson/Janssen reached in New York State to finalize litigation pertaining to the company’s alleged role in the increased use and abuse of opioids. The drugs have been blamed for overdose deaths.

Orange County had 121 opioid-related fatalities in 2020 and 69 so far in 2021, officials say.

“These funds can help us save lives,” Orange County Legislator Janet Sutherland, the chairperson of the Legislature’s Opioid Addiction Committee, said. “Working closely with County leadership and key staff, we can provide funding for mental health and addiction programs and preventive efforts. In addition, we will continue to work with non-profits and physicians to bring heightened awareness to this critical issue.”

See 20 Ways America Has Changed Since 9/11

For those of us who lived through 9/11, the day’s events will forever be emblazoned on our consciousnesses, a terrible tragedy we can’t, and won’t, forget. Now, two decades on, Stacker reflects back on the events of 9/11 and many of the ways the world has changed since then. Using information from news reports, government sources, and research centers, this is a list of 20 aspects of American life that were forever altered by the events of that day. From language to air travel to our handling of immigration and foreign policy, read on to see just how much life in the United States was affected by 9/11.

Gallery Credit: Madison Troyer

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LOOK: Here Are the 25 Best Places to Live in New York State

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in New York using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.