Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
J&J Opioid Crisis Settlement Overview:
- Who: A $26 billion settlement that will provide payments to states, local governments and opioid epidemic victims has been finalized.
- Why: Opioid distributors and wholesalers have agreed to settle allegations they fueled the opioid epidemic in the United States.
- Where: Once finalized, the opioid settlement payments will be distributed throughout the United States.
Drugmaker Johnson & Johnson and three major distributors have finalized the $26 billion settlement over their alleged roles in the opioid crisis, clearing the way for that money to start flowing to states and local governments to mitigate opioid harm.
On Friday, lawyers for Johnson & Johnson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson said they agreed to the settlement.
The approval of the deal had been contingent on getting enough participation from a critical mass of state and local governments. The more states and local governments participate in the settlement means there are less that could still sue the companies for similar claims.
Last month, an “unprecedented” number of local governments throughout the United States agreed to participate in the $26 billion opioid crisis settlement.
The deadline to opt in to the opioid settlement was Jan. 26, and approximately 90% of local governments that were eligible to participate indicated they would do so.
Taken together, the settlements are the largest to date among the many opioid-related cases that have been playing out across the country. The funds will be directed at reversing the crisis in places that have been devastated by it, although they will not go directly to any families or individuals hurt by opioids.
Money could start flowing to communities by April, the Associated Press reports.
The drug distributors and wholesalers deny any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $26 billion to escape the litigation.
Sackler Family and Purdue Pharma Still Finalizing Deal
Purdue Pharma, notorious for creating OxyContin, and members of the Sackler family are still in talks but may be nearing a deal worth around $6 billion.
The Sacklers maintain that they have done nothing wrong, but they have faced tremendous backlash for their purported involvement in pushing the sales of OxyContin despite high rates of opioid addiction and overdoses.
Some opioid crisis victims are concerned that the proposed opioid settlements do not provide enough for those who became addicted to prescription opioids and family members who lost loved ones to fatal opioid overdoses.
Even if the opioid settlements are approved, other opioid lawsuits against companies that sold prescription opioid medications will continue.
Major pharmacy chains including CVS, Walgreens and Walmart have denied wrongdoing.
However, they may not be able to avoid liability for their role in the opioid crisis. Last year, an Ohio jury found that the pharmacies did not do enough to keep patients safe when dispensing the pain medication.
Do you think the pharmacies should be liable for their alleged role in the opioid epidemic? Join the discussion in the comments below.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
325 thoughts onJohnson & Johnson Opioid Settlement Finalized For $26B
Add me if this is still open. Those doctors ruined my life with OxyContin.
I would like to know if I qualify
I have medical documentation of over 10 years of being prescribed opiates oxycodone and being addicted. The doctors have now ruined my life Because of taking me on and off of the pills and finally abruptly taking me completely off of the pills. Now I am seeking other doctors to try to find pills and cannot after 12 surgeries 8 spinal cord surgeries. I have been shuffled around To different interns And all I hear is the DEA from them . I don’t have the energy and strength anymore too Keep trying to find a doctor that will give me my prescriptions. I’m literally suffering. So please include me and any Advice you can provide
I have medical documentation of over 10 years of being prescribed opiates oxycodone and being addicted. The doctors have now ruined my life Because of taking me on and off of the pills and finally abruptly taking me completely off of the pills. Now I am seeking other doctors to try to find pills and cannot after 12 surgeries 8 spinal cord surgeries. I have been shuffled around To different interns And all I hear is the DEA from them . I don’t have the energy and strength anymore too Keep trying to find the doctor that will give me my prescrip shin. I’m literally suffering. So please include me and any advice is in provide.
Lifelong trauma since mother’s death in 1970..suicide due to darvon and alcohol
Please don’t forget me
I need more info on how to be added, I have family that has passed from opioid addiction and my husband was on them for over 20 years it has been a very rough road to say the least
Why is there no way to sign up for this law suit. Please contact me when you can sign up, and let me know how. Sethnichols08@gmail.com
Seth nichols
If this case isn’t closed, I would also like to be added. I have documented addiction that I suffered with for years, all thanks to the first doctor whose exact words to me, when I brought up the possibility of becoming addicted, were “Some people just have to manage their lives on pain medications, for the rest of their lives”. I looked into sueing that first doctor and got nowhere but it was very early on, before all the scamming also started with the laboratories that were bribing doctors in order to get their accounts for overpriced urine testing. The entire thing makes me so furious but I am currently almost 17 years sober but that has not been without significant damage to my life, my finances and my health. It took away things that I will never get back and that really don’t even have a value that compares to any money they could offer. But they absolutely should be held responsible when they purposely marketed to the weak and the greedy.
I’m a 35 yr old as we would call OxyContin baby I was first introduced to the drug at 19 when I was thrown down a fight of stair and graters 3 vertebra in my spine later my father was prescribed 120 of 80s by 3 different doctors and it filed my whole family addiction and I have lose my father and his brother to odd I’m still in active addiction that was designed by these corporations I believe that it was deliberate and would like some to contact me to be included in the lawsuit it’s taken away all of my dream opetunity health hope and family and is still taking I currently have endocarditis for the second time and I am to active to go have life saving anitobiotics knowing my risk is death
Sorry my name is Jacqueline reason