As the number of opioid-related lawsuits against the pharmaceutical industry grew to nearly 3,000 nationwide this year, breakthroughs, however tentative, began to emerge. Oklahoma, the first state to go to trial, won a judgment against Johnson & Johnson for $465 million; the first federal trial, for two Ohio counties, settled just before opening arguments, for $20.4 million.

But there are indications that years of litigation lie ahead.

Purdue Pharma, which makes OxyContin, and the Sackler family who control the company, offered to settle all cases and sought bankruptcy protection to restructure. But two dozen states oppose the deal, saying the family itself should pay more. Three giant drug distributors and two manufacturers offered their own comprehensive settlement. But many states and thousands of local governments have flatly rejected it.

Coming soon in 2020: more bellwether trials around the country, including the first against the big pharmacy chains. And, of course, many more negotiations.