Walgreens Goes to Trial in Florida Lawsuit Over Opioids
Most of the defendants in Florida’s lawsuit over the opioid epidemic have settled for more than $870 million, according to the state attorney general. One remains: Walgreens Co. is not giving up.
A jury has been seated in Pasco County, Florida, just north of Tampa, to hear the state’s case against Walgreens, a huge drugstore chain with more than 9,000 outlets on streetcorners throughout the country. Opening statements are set for early next week.
The Deerfield, Illinois-based company says it will not settle.
“We are prepared for trial,” said Walgreens spokesman Fraser Engerman in an email.
Florida, led by Attorney General Ashley Moody, contends that Walgreens has been an integral part of the opioid epidemic. As examples of excess, Moody said in a statement that one Walgreens outlet sold 2.2 million opioid tablets in the town of Hudson, Florida, which has about 12,000 residents.
