Vidostream | News, sport and opinion from the Vidostream's US edition

https://vidostream.com

Walgreens, CVS and Walmart ordered to pay $650 million in opioid lawsuit

Federal law requires pharmacies to determine that prescriptions have been issued for legitimate medical purposes before filling them.
OxyContin pills at a Vermont pharmacy in 2013. (Toby Talbot/AP)

OxyContin pills at a Vermont pharmacy in 2013. (Toby Talbot/AP)

A federal judge ordered three of the country’s largest pharmacy chains to pay $650.6 million to two Ohio counties that they were found to have flooded with prescription painkillers. The court said Wednesday in a landmark judgment that CVS, Walgreens and Walmart must bear some of the cost that the opioid epidemic has wrought on Lake and Trumbull counties, outside Cleveland.

The award comes after a first-of-its-kind federal trial targeting the three major retailers, which have some of the deepest pockets left in the legal battle over the epidemic. Many other major drug distributors and makers have settled or filed for bankruptcy.

A jury ruled last year that the pharmacies played a significant role in the crisis faced by the two counties. U.S. District Judge Dan A. Polster in Cleveland wrote this week that the pharmacy chains had dispensed the drugs “without effective controls and procedures” to prevent the pills from being abused and resold and are thus partially responsible for the damage the epidemic has caused in the two communities.

Read More (...)

Author: Editors Desk

Source: The Washington Post

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy.
You did not use the site, Click here to remain logged. Timeout: 60 second