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THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019
OBITUARIES
Aliisa Diane Wirkkala
Naselle, Washington
May 17, 1956 — Aug. 16, 2019
Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo
Judge Thad Balkman announces his decision in the opioid lawsuit In Norman, Okla., Monday.
Balkman found Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries helped fuel the state’s opioid drug
crisis and ordered the consumer products giant to pay $572 million to help abate the problem
in the coming years.
Oklahoma judge rules
against drugmaker, orders
$572 million payment
By SEAN MURPHY
Associated Press
NORMAN, Okla. — An Oklahoma judge
on Monday found Johnson & Johnson and its
subsidiaries helped fuel the state’s opioid cri-
sis and ordered the consumer products giant
to pay $572 million, more than twice the
amount another drug manufacturer agreed to
pay in a settlement.
Cleveland County District Judge Thad
Balkman’s ruling followed the fi rst state opi-
oid case to make it to trial and could help
shape negotiations over roughly 1,500 simi-
lar lawsuits fi led by state, local and tribal gov-
ernments consolidated before a federal judge
in Ohio.
“The opioid crisis has ravaged the state of
Oklahoma,” Balkman said before announc-
ing the judgment. “It must be abated
immediately.”
An attorney for the companies said they
plan to appeal the ruling to the Oklahoma
Supreme Court.
Before Oklahoma’s trial began May 28,
the state reached settlements with two other
defendant groups — a $270 million deal with
OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma and an $85
million settlement with Israeli-owned Teva
Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Oklahoma argued the companies and their
subsidiaries created a public nuisance by
launching an aggressive and misleading mar-
keting campaign that overstated how effec-
tive the drugs were for treating chronic pain
and understated the risk of addiction. Okla-
homa Attorney General Mike Hunter says
opioid overdoses killed 4,653 people in the
state from 2007 to 2017.
Hunter called Johnson & Johnson a ”king-
pin” company that was motivated by greed.
He specifi cally pointed to two former John-
son & Johnson subsidiaries, Noramco and
Tasmanian Alkaloids, which produced much
of the raw opium used by other manufactur-
ers to produce the drugs.
On Monday, Hunter said the Oklahoma
case could provide a “road map” for other
states to follow in holding drugmakers
responsible for the opioid crisis.
“That’s the message to other states: We
did it in Oklahoma. You can do it elsewhere,”
Hunter said. “Johnson & Johnson will fi nally
be held accountable for thousands of deaths
and addictions caused by their activities.”
Among those seated in the courtroom on
Monday were Craig and Gail Box, whose son
Austin was a 22-year-old standout linebacker
for the Oklahoma Sooners when he died of a
prescription drug overdose in 2011.
One of the attorneys for the state, Reg-
gie Whitten, said he also lost a son to opioid
abuse.
“I feel like my boy is looking down,”
Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo
Sabrina Strong, an attorney for Johnson
& Johnson and its subsidiaries, answers a
question during a news conference.
Whitten said after the judge’s ruling, his voice
cracking with emotion.
Oklahoma pursued the case under the
state’s public nuisance statute and presented
the judge with a plan to abate the crisis that
would cost between $12.6 billion for 20 years
and $17.5 billion over 30 years. Attorneys for
Johnson & Johnson have said that estimate
is wildly infl ated. The judge’s award would
cover the costs of one year of the state’s abate-
ment plan, funding things like opioid use pre-
vention and addiction treatment.
Attorneys for the company have main-
tained they were part of a lawful and heav-
ily regulated industry subject to strict federal
oversight, including the U.S. Drug Enforce-
ment Agency and the Food and Drug Admin-
istration, during every step of the supply
chain. Lawyers for the company said the
judgment was a misapplication of public nui-
sance law.
Sabrina Strong, an attorney for Johnson &
Johnson and its subsidiaries, said the compa-
nies have sympathy for those who suffer from
substance abuse but called the judge’s deci-
sion “fl awed.”
“You can’t sue your way out of the opioid
abuse crisis,” Strong said. “Litigation is not
the answer.”
Attorneys for the plaintiffs in the cases
consolidated before a federal judge in Ohio
called the Oklahoma judgment “a milestone
amid the mounting evidence against the opi-
oid pharmaceutical industry.”
“While public nuisance laws differ in
every state, this decision is a critical step for-
ward for the more than 2,000 cities, coun-
ties, and towns we represent in the consoli-
dation of federal opioid cases,” they said in
a statement.
Also on Monday, the Kentucky Supreme
Court declined to review an earlier ruling,
making previously secret testimony from
former Purdue Pharma President Richard
Sackler and other documents public. The
court record was sealed in 2015 as part of a
$24 million settlement between Purdue and
Kentucky.
SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
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WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
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SATURDAY
Aliisa Diane Wirkkala (known to all in Seaside, Oregon, Naselle Rock, and
as “Nana”), 63, went to be with the Lord recently retired from TLC/Fi ber Federal
on Aug. 16, 2019, at 7:05 a.m. in Port- C redit U nion in Astoria and Seaside, Ore-
gon. She impacted many lives
land, Oregon, at Legacy Eman-
during her careers, and devel-
uel Hospital.
oped many close relationships
Aliisa was born May 17,
with clients and co-workers.
1956, to Lawrence C. Wallin,
She was a member of the
of Portland, Oregon, and Bar-
Naselle Assembly of God
bara A. (Christensen) Wallin, of
Church for 45 years. During
Ilwaco, Washington.
this time, she was involved with
She is survived by her father,
the w omen’s m inistries, served
Lawrence; mother, Barbara;
as Sunday s chool superinten-
brother, Jeffery C. Wallin and
dent and teacher, vacation Bible
his wife, Candy; sister, Wendy
Aliisa Wirkkala
school organizer and kitchen
S. Wallin and her husband, Arne
queen for many church events.
L. Wirkkala; daughter, Elsa
Wirkkala and her husband, Brian Wis- She supported countless Christian minis-
dom; son, Mitchell Wirkkala and his wife, tries and overseas children’s programs.
Aliisa was a beautiful woma n of strong
Kristian Penttila; and son, Neil Wirkkala
and his wife, Chanel Ruch, of Naselle, faith who cared deeply for and loved
her family, children, grandchildren and
Washington.
Grandchildren are Madison Reber friends, as well as her family in Christ. She
Wirkkala, 22, Brianna Wirkkala, 19, Brice had a great impact on our community, and
Wirkkala, 17, Tucker Wisdom, 7, Mason in many lives. She was an amazing, lov-
Wisdom, 3, Eva Wirkkala, 15, Kayli Wirk- ing wife, daughter, sister, mother, grand-
kala, 13, and Joey Wirkkala, 7. She is also mother, auntie and great friend to many.
survived by several nieces, nephews, She was an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry
on and a mighty prayer warrior.
cousins and in-laws.
One thing I ask of the Lord, this only
Aliisa grew up in Ilwaco, Washington,
and graduated from high school in 1974. do I seek: that I may dwell in the house
Growing up, she enjoyed being on her of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze
grandmother’s farm on Baker’s Bay riding upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek
horses. She was involved in the local Rain- him in his temple. For in the day of trou-
bow chapter, enjoyed playing guitar and ble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
piano, was a cheerleader at Ilwaco High he will hide me in the shelter of his tab-
School, and was also a Sunday school ernacle and set me high upon a rock. —
teacher for the Chinook Lutheran Church. Psalm 27:4-5
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m.
Her fi rst job was as a cook at the Big
Z drive-in in Long Beach, Washington, on Aug. 31, 2019, at Naselle Assembly
which is where she met her soon-to-be of God Church, located at 278 Knappton
husband of 45 years, Arne Wirkkala, of Road in Naselle. A graveside procession
Naselle. They were married June 8, 1974, follows at Peaceful Hill Cemetery on
and went on to have three children of their South Valley Road. Food and fellowship
are provided after the graveside proceed-
own.
Aliisa babysat and provided day care ings at Naselle Assembly of God.
Penttila’s Chapel by the Sea is in
for many local families in Naselle, worked
at the Bank of the Pacifi c in Naselle for charge of the arrangements. If anyone so
several years, and went on to gradu- wishes, viewing will be open Friday, Aug.
ate from beauty college in Astoria, Ore- 30, at Penttila’s Chapel by the Sea in Long
gon, and had her own nail salon at the Beach, Washington.
Her guest book is available at pentti-
Hair Villa in Naselle for several years.
She went on to work for Jones New York laschapel.com
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MONDAY
REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
84 56
75 58
71 59
Sunny and very
Sunny and nice
warm
A shower
71 57
70 56
Partly sunny
Sun and clouds
and nice
68 57
71 56
Partly sunny Clouds and sun
Aberdeen
Olympia
85/58
84/62
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Sunday
Tonight’s Sky: Sunset now
before 8:00 p.m. PDT.
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 69/52
Normal high/low .................. 69/53
Record high .................. 91 in 2016
Record low .................... 43 in 1992
Precipitation
Sunday ..................................... Trace
Month to date ........................ 0.90”
Normal month to date ......... 0.84”
Year to date .......................... 25.61”
Normal year to date ........... 37.78”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019
Time
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
12:11 p.m. 6.2 5:47 a.m. -0.6
11:22 p.m. 8.1 5:34 p.m. 2.5
Cape Disappointment
11:48 a.m. 5.8 4:53 a.m. -0.9
11:01 p.m. 7.9 4:44 p.m. 2.5
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 6:29 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 8:04 p.m.
Moonrise today .............. 2:46 a.m.
Moonset today .............. 6:39 p.m.
New
First
Full
Last
12:00 p.m. 6.3 5:15 a.m. -0.9
11:12 p.m. 8.4 5:08 p.m. 2.5
Warrenton
12:06 p.m. 6.6 5:31 a.m. -0.5
11:17 p.m. 8.5 5:18 p.m. 2.6
Knappa
12:48 p.m. 6.5 6:48 a.m. -0.5
11:59 p.m. 8.4 6:35 p.m. 2.2
Depoe Bay
Aug 30 Sep 5 Sep 13 Sep 21
11:04 a.m. 6.4 4:24 a.m. -0.7
10:13 p.m. 8.6 4:13 p.m. 3.0
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
86/72/t
76/61/pc
79/60/pc
87/72/pc
79/52/pc
91/77/s
97/77/pc
87/67/pc
91/77/t
76/67/pc
111/88/s
80/62/pc
79/71/c
90/68/t
80/66/pc
75/57/pc
85/73/t
90/59/s
91/76/pc
94/77/pc
85/66/pc
90/77/t
82/68/t
110/86/s
79/63/pc
85/68/t
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
85/52
Kennewick Walla Walla
92/62 Lewiston
92/54
91/58
Hermiston
The Dalles 93/55
Enterprise
Pendleton 84/51
90/58
94/60
La Grande
87/51
99/59
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Hi/Lo/W
Pullman
89/55
90/56
Salem
84/57
Yakima 90/56
Longview
84/56 Portland
96/63
Spokane
87/63
85/55
87/55
Astoria
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Corvallis
98/58
Albany
98/58
John Day
Eugene
Bend
99/58
89/54
91/58
Ontario
92/51
Caldwell
Burns
90/45
90/50
Medford
106/68
Klamath Falls
94/52
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
89/45/s
69/54/s
78/60/s
96/59/s
76/52/s
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
98/54/s
68/58/pc
73/59/s
95/60/s
69/56/s
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
75/55/s
103/64/s
84/59/s
98/58/s
94/60/s
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
69/57/pc
98/63/s
76/58/s
95/57/s
94/62/s