opioid lawsuit

The legality of an agreement by the maker of OxyContin to settle thousands of lawsuits over the harm done by opioids is going before the Supreme Court. Families that lost loved ones to overdoses are divided over Purdue Pharma's plan to settle with governments. The settlement could provide billions of dollars to address an overdose epidemic and pay victims.

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and Lee Health said they are not “subordinate” to the attorney general, as they were created by the Legislature.

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s lawsuit contends five hospital districts, by pursuing separate claims against pharmaceutical industry companies, are jeopardizing settlements her office has reached.

Walgreens was the 12th and final defendant in the state's legal battle against opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmaceutical companies it holds responsible for the epidemic.

The state says Walgreens ignored red flags and filled millions of suspicious opioid prescriptions. Walgreens says drugmakers misled pharmacies about the risks.

The order came in a lawsuit filed by the Florida attorney general’s office in 2018 seeking unspecified damages against drug manufacturers, retailers and distributors.

The money would be spread over a period of 18 years, starting next April.

Attorney General Ashley Moody says the money will be spent on drug prevention measures as well as opioid treatment and recovery services.

The pending settlement likely means Purdue will avoid going to trial in the sprawling and complicated case involving some 2,300 local governments across 23 states.

Lawsuits over the way drugmakers have marketed opioids are already putting a dent in companies' reputations. Litigation has forced the release of internal documents that are shifting the narrative.

Opioid manufacturers and distributors will be defending themselves against cases brought by thousands of communities around the country.

The nation's second-largest drugstore chain says Florida's lawsuit alleging that it helped fuel the state's opioid crisis "is without merit."