Kroger settled an opioid lawsuit with West Virginia for $68 million, bringing the state's total opioid litigation dollars to more than $1 billion, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a May 4 press conference.
The settlement resolves the suit alleging Kroger failed to maintain effective controls against opioid diversion, the attorney general's office said in a May 4 news release. Kroger was the last remaining defendant in the lawsuit that included Walgreens, Walmart, CVS and Rite Aid.
Walmart and CVS settled with the state in September for $65 million and $82.5 million, respectively, the news release said. Walgreens settled in January for $83 million, and Rite Aid settled in August for up to $30 million.
Kroger will pay $34 million upfront, followed by $12 million in June 2024, another $12 million in June 2025, the news release said. Kroger will pay the remaining $10 million over the following seven years.