Chicago, IL

Walgreens pharmacy, Florida settle opioid costs lawsuit for $683M

Published

2 years ago

May 5, 2022

Walgreens pharmacy, Florida settle opioid costs lawsuit for $683M

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla — The Walgreens pharmacy chain has reached a $683 million settlement with the state of Florida in a lawsuit accusing the corporate of improperly dishing out tens of millions of painkillers that contributed to the opioid disaster, state officers stated Thursday.

State Lawyer Common Ashley Moody stated the deal was struck after 4 weeks of presidency proof was offered at trial. Walgreens was the twelfth and last defendant to settle with Florida, which can convey in additional than $3 billion for the state to sort out opioid dependancy and overdoses.

“We now go into battle armed and able to combat again arduous towards this artifical disaster,” Moody stated at a information convention in Tampa. “I’m glad that we have now been capable of finish this monumental litigation and transfer previous the courtroom.”

Walgreens, primarily based in Deerfield, Illinois, stated in a press release the corporate didn’t admit wrongdoing within the deal, throughout which $620 million shall be paid to the state over 18 years and a one-time sum of $63 million for legal professional charges. Walgreens operates greater than 9,000 shops in all 50 states, based on the corporate web site. About 820 of these places are in Florida.

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma has a tentative nationwide deal that features $6 billion in money from members of the Sackler household who personal the corporate. In all, settlements, civil and prison penalties across the nation since 2007 have totaled over $45 billion, based on an Related Press tally.

The Florida case hinged on accusations that as Walgreens distributed greater than 4.3 billion complete opioid drugs in Florida from Might 2006 to June 2021, greater than half contained a number of simply acknowledged purple flags for abuse, fraud and dependancy that the corporate ought to have seen and acted upon.

The opioid epidemic has been linked to greater than 500,000 deaths within the U.S. over the previous 20 years, counting these from prescription painkillers akin to OxyContin and generic oxycodone in addition to illicit medicine akin to heroin and illegally produced fentanyl.

In the identical case, CVS Well being Corp. and CVS Pharmacy Inc. agreed to pay the state $484 million. Teva Prescription drugs Industries Ltd. agreed to pay $195 million and Allergan PLC greater than $134 million.

Florida has beforehand obtained tens of millions of {dollars} in opioid settlements involving McKesson Corp., Cardinal Well being Inc., Johnson & Johnson Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp.

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Chicago, IL

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Crew by way of

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 3:26AM

FILE photograph: View of the Chicago Hearth Division, the third largest municipal hearth division in america of America, within the Chinatown neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2014.
Shutterstock

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.

The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.

The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.

After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.

It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.

The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.

Chicago, IL

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.

As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.

“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”

WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story

“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”

“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”

SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor

For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.

“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”

However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.

Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.

Chicago, IL

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:52PM

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.

The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.

The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.

However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.

This story is breaking and can be up to date.