Walmart opioid crisis class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Walmart agreed to pay $215 million to resolve claims brought against it by the attorney general of Florida regarding its alleged role in exacerbating the Florida opioid crisis.
- Why: Walmart is the latest company to agree to a settlement to resolve claims related to the nationwide opioid epidemic.
- Where: The settlement occurred in Florida.
Walmart agreed to pay almost $215 million and provide hundreds of thousands of overdose treatment kits to law enforcement to resolve claims that it exacerbated the Florida opioid crisis.
The agreement is the latest secured by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who previously reached a $683 million agreement with Walgreens in May that resolved claims related to the opioid epidemic, Law360 reports.
Walmart, meanwhile, agreed to pay almost $188 million toward “opioid remediation,” almost $7.8 million to a common benefit fund and more than $19 million toward costs related to the litigation.
The Walmart opioid settlement notes that Walmart, as found by an investigation by the attorney general’s office, dispenses a smaller amount of opioids than other major pharmacy chains and independent pharmacies, Law360 reports.
Walmart instituting new policies in response to opioid epidemic
Walmart also reportedly voluntarily began training its staff and incorporating policies aimed at ensuring they are more responsible when it comes to dispersing opioid medications to patients.
The changes include “pharmacist training and empowerment programs, company-wide limitations on strength and duration of acute opioid prescriptions and an industry-leading suite of opioid data analytics,” according to the Walmart opioid settlement.
Walmart has not admitted to any liability and continues to deny any wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement, Law360 reports.
In related news, Walmart, along with Walgreens and CVS, fought back against a $650 million judgment last month that called for the companies to pay into an opioid abatement plan for two Northeast Ohio counties.
Have you been affected by the nationwide opioid epidemic? Let us know in the comments!
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:
- CVS, Rite Aid lawsuit alleges acetaminophen use during pregnancy caused child’s autism
- West Virginia AG predicts $1B in opioid settlements as CVS, Walmart settle for $150M
- Remicade (infliximab) antitrust $25M class action settlement
- Bristol-Myers Squibb HIV cART drugs antitrust $10.8M class action settlement
12 thoughts onWalmart to pay $215M for role in Florida opioid crisis
I was on opioids for years and had them filled at Walmart, until they started giving me a hard time every month when I went to get them filled. I then went to CVS! Wish I would have never starting taking them, definitely got addicted! Then, had to buy them off the streets!
Add me
Add me
Add Me Please
I am in South Florida and was Mac in the middle of the pill Mill crap. My sister died because of roxicodone, my best friend’s girlfriend also, it is also messed up many relationships. Including the ones with my family. It’s cost me pain and suffering from being sick and diarrhea if I didn’t have it. It was about $300 a script give or take. I’ve been turned away saying they don’t have it when I legitimate MRIs and reasons to be on pain meds but I choose not to because of what they do to people’s lives and family. Seems like this company MC is getting away with murder quite literally. It is affected my entire family and everybody and everything around me including my health and they’re dodging me as well as dodging me with the Suboxone claim. Same manufacturer and they make millions no matter what. And let’s face it, Walmart will tend to anything if they can sell it and they most certainly did push a lot of Narcotics
Walmart filled prescriptions for a year. Even I broke both my shoulders and need replacements. In the process of scheduling surgery. I have all the notifications. Records etc.
Add me
Add me
The mother of our grandchildren (now our adopted children) died in 2017, while in the hospital, from heart failure, while abusing opioids.
I actually had to move out of Florida to get sober. Opioids destroyed my life .
Still dealing with getting better.
Thanks