Judge okays Trumbull County opioid lawsuit settlement with Rite Aid
CLEVELAND, Ohio - A federal judge has okayed a tentative settlement between Trumbull County and one of the major pharmacy chains it is suing over allegations that they contributed to the opioid crisis.
U.S. District Judge Dan Polster has approved undisclosed terms of an agreement settling the lawsuit filed by Trumbull and Lake Counties against Rite Aid. The settlement is subject to approval by the Boards of Commissioners of each county.
Other defendants remain in the case including, Walgreens, CVS, Eckard, Walmart, and Giant Eagle.
The lawsuit alleges that the way pharmacies dispensed pain pills contributed to the opioid crisis and constituted a public nuisance in their communities.
The counties claim that between 2000 and 2014, the pharmacies dispensed 68-million doses of opioids in Trumbull County. With a population of 209,000, attorneys say that is the equivalent of 320 pills for every resident during the period.
A final pretrial in the case is scheduled on September 29 in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.
