The Latest: Judge denies delay in federal opioid trial

CLEVELAND — The Latest on jury selection in the first federal trial on the opioid crisis (all times local):

9:50 a.m.

Attorneys for several defendants in a landmark opioid trial in Cleveland have asked a federal judge to delay it because of media coverage surrounding a possible $18 billion settlement .

Word on the settlement involving three drug distributors came as jury selection was about to start Wednesday.

The lawyers argued that jurors who read or saw any of the coverage would be tainted when learning of the massive amount of money possibly being discussed.

U.S. District Judge Dan Polster denied the motions and responded by saying he didn’t believe many of the potential jurors would have been exposed to the stories.

He said he will question members of the jury pool to determine whether they’re aware of the coverage.

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6 a.m.

Jury selection is set to begin in the first federal trial over the nation’s opioid epidemic.

The trial focuses on lawsuits filed by two Ohio counties claiming drug companies that made, distributed and sold prescription painkillers engaged in a deadly conspiracy that has inflicted massive damage on their communities.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Wednesday and is expected to last a few days. Attorneys for Summit and Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH’-guh) counties and six drug-related companies will select a 12-person jury. Prospective jurors were asked to answer a 19-page questionnaire about the case.

The trial is scheduled to begin Monday in Cleveland. It’s considered a bellwether because it could help shape how future trials are conducted or possibly help spur the global settlement sought by U.S. District Court Judge Dan Polster.

Polster is overseeing more than 2,000 lawsuits filed by local governments and other entities against companies in the opioid industry.

The Associated Press

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