FOLLOW US

Investigates October 21, 2019 2 mins read

Four Drug Companies Settle Opioid Lawsuit with Ohio Counties for $260 Million

Investigates ı By Marivic Cabural Summers

0 Comments

Opiod Epidemic

Four pharmaceutical companies agreed to pay $260 million to settle the lawsuit filed by two Ohio counties alleging that they contributed to the ongoing opioid epidemic nationwide.

On Monday, AmerisourceBergen (NYSE: ABC), Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) and McKesson (NYSE: MCK) announced a $215 million settlement with Cuyahoga and Summit counties in Ohio.

In a statement, the three drug companies said they “strongly dispute the allegations made by the two counties.” However, they believe that “settling the bellwether trial is an important stepping stone to achieving a global resolution and delivering meaningful relief.”

In addition, the pharmaceutical companies stated that the settlements will be used to support initiatives to fight the opioid epidemic including providing treatment, rehabilitation, mental health and other important initiatives.

Furthermore, the AmeriBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson expressed their deep concern regarding the impact of the opioid epidemic on families and communities across the United States. According to the drug companies, “We are committed to being part of the solution.”

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE: TEVA) is the fourth company that reached a settlement with the two Ohio counties.

The Israeli-based drug company agreed to pay $20 million in cash plus it will contribute $25 million worth of Suboxone, a treatment for opioid addiction, according Hunter Shkolnik, the lawyer representing Cuyahoga and Summit counties.

The four pharmaceutical companies were set to present their arguments against the allegations against them during a nine-week trial in Cleveland. It is the first federal jury trial regarding the opioid epidemic.

Walgreens did not reach a settlement with the Ohio counties

Walgreens Boots Alliance, the fifth defendant in the lawsuit did not reach a settlement agreement with the Ohio counties. The judge postponed the trial on the case.

In a statement, Walgreens said, “We never manufactured, marketed or wholesaled prescription opioid medications. Our pharmacists have always been committed to serving patients in the communities where they live and work.”

"Walgreens is completely unlike the wholesalers involved in the national opioid litigation. Before 2014, Walgreens delivered opioid medications – among many other types of medications – only to our own pharmacies, staffed by our own pharmacy professionals. We never sold opioid medications to pain clinics, internet pharmacies or the 'pill mills' that fueled the national opioid crisis,” the company added.

Previous Article

AOC Endorses Bernie Sanders for President

Read More
2032 Posts

Marivic Cabural Summers

Marivic has been a freelance writer/journalist for nearly 20 years. She strictly adheres to the ethical standards in journalism. For her, integrity is everything. Readers deserve to know that real story. She previously worked as research analyst and editor at Lombardi Financial and has written for various websites including The Motley Fool, ValueWalk, IcannWiki and was a news writer/radio program producer at Nation Broadcasting Corporation. Marivic holds a BA in Mass Communications.

Discussion

No comments yet. Be the first to join the discussion!

Don’t Miss It
America October 23, 2026
SpaceX, Tesla Merger: Boards Launch Review…

The possibility of a SpaceX, Tesla merger has moved beyond…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 23, 2026
Steve McBee $7.1M Insurance Fraud Case:…

Steve McBee Sr., the patriarch of the reality television series…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 23, 2026
Connor Hellebuyck Traded to New Jersey…

The New Jersey Devils have made a major move to…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 23, 2026
Education Department Drops PSLF Challenge, Delivering…

Federal student loan borrowers have secured a significant victory after…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 23, 2026
Humana and UnitedHealthcare Cancel Medicare Advantage…

Nearly 1 million Americans are facing a shake-up in their…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 23, 2026
Lawyers Could Collect $1.27 Billion in…

Outside lawyers in the Meta privacy case could collect up…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 23, 2026
Plutonium Pit Production Faces Safety and…

WASHINGTON — The Energy Department has approved full construction of…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 23, 2026
Wall Street Rattled: Nasdaq Plunges 2.6%…

NEW YORK — A fresh wave of doubt about the…

By – Derek Johnson
America October 23, 2026
Judge Orders Trump to Sit for…

MIAMI — President Donald Trump must sit for a sworn…

By – Derek Johnson
America October 22, 2026
Pope Leo XIV Needs No Further…

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV will not require additional…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 22, 2026
Six Women Testify in Russell Brand…

LONDON — Six women have testified in the Russell Brand…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 22, 2026
Websites Go Dark as AI Uncovers…

The PHP security crisis has pushed government websites offline and…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 21, 2026
El Nino Could Reach Historic Strength,…

GENEVA — El Nino, a powerful climate pattern that warms…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 21, 2026
News Overload Can Fuel Anxiety and…

News keeps people informed about wars, political conflict, public safety…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 21, 2026
Atlanta Rapper Indicted in Alleged $4.6…

ATLANTA — Shawtey Dred, the social media persona of Atlanta…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 21, 2026
Musk and Trump Have a Starlink…

Opinion | Starlink restrictions in Ukraine have exposed a problem Elon Musk…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 21, 2026
Texas Trans Texts Spark Election Propaganda…

News Analysis | Texas voters began casting early ballots Monday,…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 20, 2026
California Ballots: DOJ Cites Charges Against…

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is citing charges against 28…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 21, 2026
Meta Stock in Focus as Earnings,…

Meta delivered a powerful revenue performance in its third-quarter earnings…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 21, 2026
Pantheon $6B Secondaries Fund Marks Firm’s…

Private markets investor Pantheon has secured $6 billion in capital…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 21, 2026
TDI Launches Insurance Fraud Task Force…

The Texas Department of Insurance has launched a coordinated push…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 21, 2026
Children’s Mercy Insurance Coverage Changes: Kansas…

Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City will no longer participate…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 21, 2026
BioWare Closing: EA Shuts Down Legendary…

Electronic Arts is reshaping its videogame empire in a sweeping…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 20, 2026
Auto-Owners Insurers Verdict: Jury Awards Warehouse…

A North Carolina federal jury has awarded nearly $2 million…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 20, 2026
Extreme Heat Is Spreading and Lasting…

An extreme heat event lasting 367 days touched nearly 85%…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 16, 2026
HealthSplash VP 18 Months Sentencing Rewards…

Cooperation can shave years off a prison term, but it…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 16, 2026
Daylight Saving Time Returns Nov. 1…

Americans will turn their clocks back one hour on Nov.…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 16, 2026
California Identifies New York Life, Aetna,…

Key Takeaways   California’s Department of Insurance maintains an official…

By – Samuel Lopez
America October 16, 2026
Three Children, Teacher Killed in Oregon…

BEND, Ore. — An Oregon school shooting killed three children…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 15, 2026
Trump Scraps Hegseth’s Execution Livestream After…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump canceled the planned execution livestream…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 19, 2026
Information Ecosystem: Five Tools to Detect…

The information ecosystem is increasingly vulnerable to misinformation. There are…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 19, 2026
An Airman Died After a Pregame…

By Michallie K. Harrison | Opinion Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson’s…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 16, 2026
NFL Player $300M Hip Surgery Lawsuit…

Athletes bet their bodies on surgeons the way pilots bet…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 16, 2026
Russian Drone Strikes Hit American Businesses…

Russian drone strikes against American-linked businesses in Ukraine are raising…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 11, 2026
AP Poll Top 25: Georgia Claims…

Georgia has reclaimed the top spot in the AP Poll…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 10, 2026
A.J. Armstrong: Former NFL Player’s Son…

 HOUSTON — Antonio “A.J.” Armstrong Jr., the son of former…

By – Jackie Allen

No posts found.

No posts found.

Signup for the USA Herald
exclusive Newsletter