The Aloha State just scored a massive win in the courtroom. Hawaiʻi's Governor Josh Green and Attorney General Anne Lopez announced a hefty $700 million settlement with pharmaceutical juggernauts Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and Sanofi's subsidiaries. This conclusion comes on the heels of an arduous 12-year legal tug-of-war, as per a release on the Office of the Governor's official website.
Set to boost the state's coffers by June 9, 2025, the payout will be split down the middle between BMS and Sanofi. Governor Green expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, “This landmark settlement is a major victory for the state of Hawaiʻi. Once the money goes into our general fund, we can go to work on immediately identifying ways to enhance health care services for Hawaiʻi’s residents,”, as he told the Office of the Governor. It appears the windfall is earmarked for bolstering local health services.
Attorney General Lopez was quick to emphasize the broader implications of the settlement, particularly the state's commitment to consumer rights. “It doesn’t matter if a company is a one-person shop, or a multibillion dollar oil company, we will relentlessly enforce Hawaiʻi’s consumer protection laws,” Lopez mentioned, as stated by the Office of the Governor.
Special Attorney General Rick Fried also chimed in on the victorious legal endeavor. “I started working on this case when I presented it to then-AG David Louie in 2012. It took 13 years to finalize, but I’m very pleased about what this settlement will do for the people of Hawaiʻi,” Fried disclosed his journey with the case, as per the Office of the Governor. Fried also expressed gratitude towards Governor Green and Attorney General Lopez for their unwavering support throughout the years-long litigation.
