Johnson and Johnson Ordered to Pay $572M in Landmark Opioid Trial

Last year they made over $81 billion in revenue and a net income of over $15 billion.

This is yet another case of "the cost of doing business" to them. Just over than 2% of their net income, which mind you, they can write that off in taxes if they pay any at all.

These fines are ridiculous. They need to be at a level that hurts the companies so they don't think twice before doing dumb shit.

I guess the lives of over 6000 deaths is worth just shy if $100 dollars per head.

Previous discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20803879

Interesting--60 minutes last night featured a doctor in Florida prosecuted for essentially running a one-stop Opioid shop. They discussed responsibility and seemed like manufacturers tried to push that to mid-level distributors. (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jailed-doctor-barry-schultz-int...)

How does HN feel about $572M--too low, high, or just right?