CLEVELAND, Ohio - The trial is expected to begin Monday afternoon in a lawsuit filed by Ohio’s Trumbull and Lake Counties against major pharmacy chains over allegations that they contributed to the nation’s opioid crisis.

The trial, which the Associated Press says is expected to last around six weeks, could set the tone for similar lawsuits against retail pharmacy chains by government entities across the U.S.

U.S. District Court Judge Aaron Polster will preside over the civil suit filed against 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.

Judge Polster earlier approved a tentative settlement between the counties and Rite-Aid.