The Opioid Reckoning (Part 2): Paul Farrell Jr.

About this episode

The episode discusses the opioid crisis and the legal battles surrounding it, featuring insights from attorney Paul T. Farrell Jr.

The Opioid Reckoning (Part 2): Litigation, Accountability, and the Fight for Justice with Paul T. Farrell Jr. In Part 2 of our deep dive into the opioid crisis, hosts Dr. Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt continue their conversation with Paul T. Farrell Jr., the West Virginia attorney who helped lead the historic national opioid litigation. This episode moves beyond the legal strategy discussed in Part 1 and explores the human toll, the documentary that captured the battle, the controversial trial outcome, and the surprising legal reversal years later. It’s a story of perseverance, public health accountability, and the long arc of justice. 🎬 From Courtroom to Documentary Paul shares the unexpected origin story behind the PBS documentary The Bitter Pill, directed by Clay Tweel. What began as a filmmaker casually attending a hearing soon turned into a seven-year chronicle of the opioid litigation, capturing the rise of a local lawsuit in Huntington, West Virginia into a nationwide legal movement. The documentary highlights not only the legal fight but also the devastating real-world impact of the opioid epidemic on families, healthcare workers, and communities. ⚖️ The Trial That Shook the…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dr. Na-Ri Oh, Ian Wendt

Guest: Paul T. Farrell Jr.

Topics covered

• opioid crisis
• litigation
• public health
• justice
• documentary

Keywords

• opioid litigation
• public health accountability
• Cabell County trial
• The Bitter Pill
• opioid epidemic

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PBS

Books & works: The Bitter Pill

Places: Huntington, West Virginia

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