Walgreens Will Pay $683 Million To Resolve An Opioid Lawsuit In Florida.

The final defendant in Florida’s opioid case has reached a settlement, bringing the state’s total litigation victory to more than $3 billion.

 

Walgreen Co. has agreed to pay $683 million to the state of Florida and its cities and counties to settle all opioid claims, including $63 million in litigation costs.

The deal, announced Thursday, puts an end to a jury trial between Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and Walgreens, one of numerous pharmacies accused of flooding neighborhoods with opiates, or prescription opioids.

 

In a prepared statement, Danielle Gray, executive vice president and global chief legal officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., said, “As the state’s largest pharmacy chain, we remain focused on and committed to being part of the solution, and believe this resolution is in the best interest of all parties involved and the communities we serve across Florida.”

The settlement includes more than 240 subdivisions in Florida in addition to the state.

 

Harlan Levy, co-chairman of Foley Hoag’s State Attorney General Practice, represented Walgreens in the transaction. Walgreens’ trial team was led by Steve Derringer, a Chicago partner at Bartlit Beck.

The final defendant to settle in Florida’s opioid case is Walgreens, raising the state’s total settlement money to more than $3 billion.

“I committed to seek accountability for the opioid problem before taking office, and with this final move, I can finally claim we have effectively achieved our purpose,” Moody said in a statement on Thursday. “The more than $3 billion raised through years of tenacious legal work will benefit communities affected by the opioid epidemic. Our aim is that this money will save lives and assist Florida families and communities heal over the next two decades.”

Two days prior, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced a $518 million deal with opiate distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen. He made the remark after finishing a bench trial last month but before the court made a decision in the case.

 

Another opioid trial against Walgreens, as well as manufacturers Allergan and Teva, and Teva’s distribution company Anda, began on April 25 in San Francisco.

Although both California and Washington have bench trials, Florida has a jury trial. Only two other juries have weighed in on the opioid problem, and both found the defendants, including Walgreens, to be liable. A damages trial against Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS is scheduled for May 9 in that lawsuit, which was brought by two Ohio counties.

Prior to trial, Florida secured settlements with Endo for $65 million and CVS, Teva, and Allergan for $860 million. CVS agreed to pay $484 million to the state.

 

Florida’s settlement, worth $620 million over 18 years, is identical to the $26 billion global opioid agreement reached last year with three distributors and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals. That transaction will net Florida $1.6 billion.

The lawsuit costs will be paid right away, with $34 million going to the state and $29 million going to lawyers representing towns and counties who filed their own claims. Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, Drake Martin Law Firm, Harrison Rivard Duncan & Buzzett, Newsome Melton, and Curry Law Group are the outside counsel for Florida.

 

 

 

 

Source: https://www.benefitspro.com/2022/05/09/walgreens-683-million-opioid-settlement-halts-florida-trial-412-129897/