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.
Opioid Crisis Settlement Overview:
- Who: A $32 billion settlement that will provide payments to states, local governments and opioid epidemic victims may soon be 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.
Corporations that allegedly fueled the opioid crisis in the United States may be required to pay $32 billion to victims and governments as negotiations are nearing an end.
The largest deal involves AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, McKesson and Johnson & Johnson. The drug distributors and wholesalers deny any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $26 billion to escape the litigation.
NPR reports that a final opioid settlement agreement, which will provide payments to nearly all 50 states, local governments and victims, may be announced imminently.
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.
In December, a proposed $4.5 billion settlement reached as part of Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy proceeding was rejected by a federal judge. The Sacklers are seeking to be released from all future liability for opioid cases.
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.
The bulk of the payments will be spent on reducing future addiction and fatalities, which supporters say will be the best way to funnel as much money as possible toward easing the effects of the opioid crisis.
Pharmacies Deny Wrongdoing in Opioid Crisis Lawsuits
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.
The pharmacies are reportedly planning to appeal.
In another opioid lawsuit filed in California, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer denied motions by opioid manufacturers and distributors to pause the case. This opioid class action lawsuit was filed by the state of California and the city and county of San Francisco. They allege the pharmacy companies improperly dispensed prescription opioid medications.
According to the California opioid lawsuit, the drug companies created a public nuisance by improperly marketing opioid painkillers and failed to prevent the drugs from ending up being sold illicitly.
Last month, an “unprecedented” number of local governments throughout the United States agreed to participate in Johnson & Johnson’s $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.
Johnson & Johnson has also reached a proposed $590 million opioid crisis settlement with Native American tribes.
Do you think the pharmacies should be liable for their alleged role in the opioid epidemic? Join the discussion in the comments below.
California is represented by Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP and Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP.
The California Opioid Lawsuit is City and County of San Francisco, et al. v. Purdue Pharma LP, et al., Case No. 3:18-cv-07591, in the U.S. District court for the Northern District of California.
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:
- Multiple Hand Sanitizer Brands Contaminated With Benzene, Warns Lab
- Procter & Gamble Sold Old Spice, Secret Antiperspirant Sprays Containing Benzene, New Class Action Claims
- Costco, Johnson & Johnson Reach Class Action Settlement Over Carcinogenic Sunscreen Accusations
- Benzene Contamination Found in Sunscreen, Antifungal, Antiperspirant Spray Products
Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru vehicle data collection class action lawsuit investigation
May 17, 2024 | Legal News
86 thoughts onOpioid Crisis Settlements Totaling $32B May Soon Be Finalized
I was hit by a car in 2007 and have had surgeries, physical therapy, water therapy, acupuncture, holistic medicine. But I was prescribed over 1.8 million mgs of Oxycontin and oxycodone alone. That does not include the fentanyl patches and other opiates and I still to this day have addiction to opiates but it all started with Oxycontin and the lies and the corruption of drug companies and corruption of government officials greed. I’m so sorry to the families that lost loved ones because of the greed but I’m not the same person I used to be I’m just a shell of that person. I’m not living I’m just existing and the quality of life is just gone. I honestly wish God would just take me. These drug companies doctors pharmacists knew it was addictive the greed got them also. But I’m on some lawsuit against the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma but probably will not see a dime. I would like to get some type of quality treatment instead of any money but that probably won’t happen either. I hope something good comes from this but I’m not very optimistic.
My brother died at 29 years old due to negligent doctors writing and refilling absurd amounts of opioids. He was give so many, in a 12 month period that he became addicted. Because of his addiction, he took his own life July 1, 2010.
My mom lost her life after a 20 year addiction I won’t go into detail but you can only imagine how much she suffered as well as our family. The money won’t bring her back no matter the amount and even if it would I wouldn’t want her back into this world as evil and corrupt as it is. However the money is owed to the victims and victims families and the government should be ashamed of the greed they’re showing and making money off this, now not only are we victims to the pharma companies were victims to our own government as well. Pharma robbed my family of a mother, sister, aunt, my best friend and the government is robbing my family of what’s owed to us. Theirs no justice like God’s justice and no pharmacy nor government will escape that fact! To the pharmacy companies, The Slacker Family, our Government you will pay for the unnecessary Evil you have done to gain ill-gotten money from innocent people who you robbed of more than just money and material things you took 500,000 lives and destroyed countless of others lives including mine! Theirs no rest for the wicked!
The people who are the true victims are getting to pennies. The cities are getting millions. It doesn’t matter if you lost everything, family members, houses. Your young kids. The judge said at some point the people have to take consequences for the action they took, by taking the meds. They put in there bodies. But states and cities are getting millions. This is wrong!!!!!
We need to try and get all us individuals with claims together and vote NO for this next bankruptcy deal.
Agreed. There’s power in numbers! There is no amount for the he’ll we endured. My only crime was I got sick with horrific back pain after 4 surgeries. I went to medical practitioners that cared more about their gated communities, their kids private schools, and luxurious vacations more than mine others well being and true recovery. I am beyond livid!@#$%
The people who are the true victims are getting to pennies. The cities are getting millions. It doesn’t matter if you lost everything, family members, houses. Your young kids. The judge said at some point the people have to take consequences for the action they took, by taking the meds. They put in there bodies. But states and cities are getting millions. This is wrong!!!!!
Please add me to this law suit, I have been prescribed 240 mg of oxycotin and 80 mg of oxycodone per day for 24 years,
It’s too late for the Purdue one, but you can get in the malincrockdt one
Add me plz I’ve been on Opioid for over 6 years
Please add me
Add me please
Add me please