TRUMBULL COUNTY, OH - U.S. District Judge Dan Polster's decision on the amount CVS, Walmart and Walgreen pharmacies owe Lake and Trumbull counties for their contribution to the opioid epidemic may not be announced until late June.

Katie King, the courtroom deputy, said the attorney's deadline to file briefs in June 20. Polster can't make a decision on the case until he receives these briefs.

This follows the trial held in the federal court in Cleveland which began May 10. 

A jury in November found the pharmacy chains responsible for recklessly distributing massive amounts of pain pills in Lake and Trumbull counties. It was the first time pharmacies in the U.S. have been held responsible for the opioid crisis.

Plaintiff's attorneys said before trial that each county needs about $1 billion to repair the damage caused by the flood of pills, which caused hundreds of overdose deaths.

Around 80 million prescription painkillers were dispensed in Trumbull County between 2012 and 2016 — 400 for every county resident — while 61 million pills were dispensed in Lake County during that five-year period — 265 pills for every resident.