The deal with Johnson & Johnson and the three major U.S. drug distributors, including Conshohocken-based AmerisourceBergen, is meant to resolve thousands of cases from states and counties.
Pennsylvania will receive up to $1 billion under a $26 billion opioid settlement deal with Johnson & Johnson and the three major U.S. pharmaceutical distributors, including Conshohocken-based AmerisourceBergen, State Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday.
The settlement is meant to help resolve thousands of lawsuits brought by states, counties, Native American tribes, and other groups against companies alleged to have fueled a deadly nationwide opioid epidemic.
“We collectively took on some of the most powerful companies in the world to fight for you,” Shapiro said during a video news conference.
The announcement drew immediate fire from Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner, showing that there’s still work to be done to get local government leaders on board.
Under the terms outlined by Shapiro’s office, the distributors will pay up to $21 billion over 18 years, and Johnson & Johnson will pay up to $5 billion over nine years. The agreement also requires the distributors, which include Ohio-based Cardinal Health and Texas-based McKesson, to establish a clearinghouse so the companies and state regulators can monitor the flow of drugs.
The states have a 30-day window to join the settlement, and participating states will also need to convince counties and local governments to join for it to take full effect.
Your new post is loading...
Newtown Township is one of those local governments that will need to be convinced to join in the settlement. At the December 12, 2018, public meeting, the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 in favor of authorizing Marc J. Bern Partners, LLP, & Cordisco & Saile, LLC to file suit against the manufacturers, promoters, and distributors of synthetic prescription Opioid medications on behalf of Newtown Township (read "Newtown Township Joins Suit Against Opioid Manufacturers and Distributors").
Speaking at a local the Opioid Community Forum on January 17, 2019, PA State Attorney Josh Shapiro said prescription drugs are providing the “jet fuel driving this crisis” and that is why PA is one of 4 states leading a 41 state investigation of pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors that “I hold responsible for a huge part of this crisis.”
Read “Rather Than Face a NYC Jury, Johnson & Johnson Inks Eleventh-hour Settlement Worth $230M. What Does That Mean for Newtown's Case Against Opioid Manufacturers?”; http://sco.lt/7DfjlI
When this settlement was announced at the July 14, 2021, Board of Supervisors public meeting, supervisors were told that the township would not get any money to spend as it wishes. The money will be used to purchase Narcan and provide health services to addicted residents.