Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton has announced a $340 million opioid settlement with the pharmaceutical chain Walgreens. In its press release, the office of the AG notes that this brings the total settlement amount to $2.91 billion.
According to the settlement agreement, $115,910,675 of the settlement funds will be allocated as part of the base payment, with the final sum dependent on how many of the counties and cities of Texas agree to sign on to the settlement. If less than 85% of the counties sign on to the agreement, then 0% of the payment will be allocated annually. However, as more individuals sign on, the amount of payment allotted increases from 3.57% up to 100% with the unanimous approval of the settlement.
Paxton stated that the health and safety of the people of Texas was a high priority and that “Pharmaceutical companies are being held responsible for the damage caused by the opioid epidemic. Walgreens will help prevent this tragic epidemic from taking more lives in the future, and it will also provide treatment for those still struggling.”
According to the AG’s announcement, the agreement with Walgreens is the latest in a series of litigation negotiated for the state of Texas. To date, the AG’s office states that it has acquired $2.91 billion from the opioid distributors Allergan, Endo, Johnson & Johnson, Mallinckrodt, McKinsey, and Teva for the Lone Star State.
This settlement joins with settlements in California, West Virginia, and other states that are pursuing not only opioid manufacturers but also pharmaceutical companies that allegedly recklessly distributed opioids, fueling the opioid crisis across the nation.
If you or a loved one have been injured by opioids and want to seek justice, you will need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney. To see if your case qualifies, complete a free case review to begin your journey to justice.