Baltimore's prolonged battle against opioid distributors and manufacturers has culminated in a new settlement, this time with Walgreens. The agreement, the specifics of which will be disclosed on October 3, adds to the city's financial recovery, amounting to $402.5 million, as reported by the City of Baltimore. The settlement is part of an overarching effort to confront companies tied to the opioid crisis that has deeply affected the community.
"As part of the settlement, Walgreens requested that we delay announcing the specific terms of the agreement for 30 days," City Solicitor Ebony M. Thompson revealed in a statement obtained by the Mayor's Office. The arrangement arrives after similar settlements were reached with Allergan and CVS, netting $45 million each, Teva at $80 million, and Cardinal Health ringing in at a heftier $152.5 million. The groundwork is laid bare for continued accountability as the city gears up for trial against the remaining defendants like Johnson & Johnson.
According to the city's news release, Mayor Scott, in viewing the city's litigation strategy, underscored the gravity of the opioid crisis and the resource-intensive nature of addressing it. "We are proud of our efforts to bring these companies to justice over the past several years," he stated. "The reality is, addressing the opioid epidemic requires an enormous amount of resources and through this litigation, our outside counsel and Law Department have begun to provide that."
The case, Mayor & City Council of Baltimore v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., filed in Maryland's Circuit Court for Baltimore City, aims to hold drug companies accountable for their part in the opioid crisis. As the trials near and settlement money grows, Baltimore's legal actions highlight their fight for justice in this challenging situation.
