CLEVELAND — The Latest on a settlement in opioid lawsuits (all times local):
9:30 a.m.
The first federal trial on the opioid crisis has been scrapped as most of the defendants have reached settlements.
Judge Dan Polster announced from the bench Monday that the drug distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson, along with drugmaker Teva, had reached a settlement in lawsuits filed by Ohio’s Cuyahoga and Summit counties.
Cuyahoga County lawyer Hunter Shkolnik says the settlement amounts to $260 million.
Opening statements had been scheduled to start Monday.
The deal resolves this case. But efforts by the companies to settle more than 2,000 other cases on the toll of opioids have not yet been realized. Polster said he is willing to help broker a broader deal, too.
Also Monday, the smaller distributor Henry Schein announced a $1.25 million deal to get out of the trial.
The case against the remaining defendant, Walgreens, is being delayed.
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8:40 a.m.
The nation’s three largest drug distributors and a drugmaker have reached a tentative deal to settle a lawsuit related to the nation’s opioid crisis.
The agreement comes within hours of the first federal trial over the crisis, with opening statements scheduled for Monday in Cleveland.
The tentative settlement involves drug distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKessen and drug manufacturer Teva.
Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, is trying to settle opioid lawsuits through bankruptcy court.
It’s not clear what will happen with remaining litigation if the settlements are finalized.
The deal was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and was confirmed to The Associated Press by Paul Hanly, a lead lawyer for the local governments suing the drug industry.
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Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
The Associated Press
