Companies reach tentative deal to settle opioids lawsuit

National News

October 21, 2019 - 10:06 AM

CLEVELAND (AP) — The nation’s three dominant drug distributors and a big drugmaker have reached a tentative deal to settle a lawsuit related to the opioid crisis just as the first federal trial over the crisis was due to begin this morning, according to a lead lawyer for the local governments suing the drug industry.

The tentative deal, details of which were to be announced later today, settles claims by state and local governments against distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKessen and the manufacturer Teva.

After five drug manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, reached settlements leading up to the trial, it became clear that the focus would be largely on the behavior of the distributors. Opening arguments were scheduled to begin today in U.S. District Court in Cleveland for the case involving claims bought by the Ohio counties of Cuyahoga and Summit.

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