pharmacies

Ohio officials say they are seeing early indicators that COVID-19 cases appear to be peaking and starting to decline; a new report ranks the Cleveland Clinic worst in the nation when it comes to investing in the community; jurors have heard opening statements in a federal opioid trial involving two Northeast Ohio counties and major pharmacy chains; and more stories.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Joseph D. Russo died over the weekend at the age of 59; Ohioans can begin signing up today for the state’s new Vax-to-College program that will give out a total of $2 million in prizes; a bellwether opioid trial is set to start today in federal court in Cleveland; and more stories.

Here are your morning headlines for Thursday, April 2:14 test positive at Parma nursing home;Cleveland Metroparks closes sites, roadsHobby Lobby closes…

U.S. District Judge Dan Polster has added a new opioid trial to the calendar, this one litigating Cuyahoga and Summit counties’ claims against pharmacy chains. Polster, who is overseeing the thousands of opioid-related lawsuits, set a trial date of Oct. 13, 2020 in an order issued Tuesday. The two counties are amending their lawsuits to accuse pharmacies of failing to look out for suspicious prescriptions for opioid painkillers, with the judge’s approval.

The nationwide opioid lawsuits are far from over. After last month’s settlement with drug makers and distributors, lawyers for Cuyahoga and Summit counties are focusing on the next set of defendants: pharmacies. At the start of this month, attorneys for the two counties asked the court permission to add new claims against pharmacies to their lawsuits. The claims accuse pharmacy chains of failing to look out for suspicious opioid prescriptions.

Ohio law permits pharmacists to give the overdose drug Naloxone without a prescription to people who deal with opioid addicts. But one state lawmaker said…

Here are your morning headlines for Monday, Oct. 21:Cleveland's homicide unit down to 13 as killings continue;State announces new opioid disposal…