New Mexico presses opioid case vs Walgreens after settling with Walmart, Kroger

Oct 18 (Reuters) – The state of New Mexico on Tuesday urged a decide to carry Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA.O) liable for fueling the opioid disaster within the state, delivering a closing argument within the newest of a number of trials across the nation in opposition to the pharmacy chain.

“The state has confirmed that the opioid disaster current in New Mexico was a foreseeable consequence of Walgreens’ conduct,” Dan Alberstone, a lawyer for the state, informed Choose Francis Matthew within the 1st Judicial Circuit of New Mexico in Santa Fe.

Alberstone accused the corporate of failing to “preserve efficient controls” in opposition to the diversion of opioids onto the black market, saying it allotted suspicious prescriptions with out satisfactory due diligence or documentation.

Steven Derringer, arguing for Walgreens, blamed the opioid disaster on extreme prescriptions and smaller, “mother and pop” pharmacies with lax controls. He stated the state had not supplied any proof that Walgreens allotted any prescriptions with out “professional medical objective.”

Reuters watched the continuing through Courtroom View Community.

When the non-jury trial started six weeks in the past, it additionally included claims in opposition to Walmart Inc (WMT.N) and Kroger Co , however these corporations settled with the state final month. The phrases of these settlements haven’t been disclosed, and the businesses didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon Tuesday.

The U.S. opioid disaster has induced greater than 500,000 overdose deaths over 20 years, in keeping with authorities knowledge. Greater than 3,300 lawsuits have been filed, largely by native governments, accusing drugmakers, distributors and pharmacy chains of fueling the disaster.

Main drugmakers and distributors have collectively agreed to pay tens of billions of {dollars} to settle opioid circumstances in opposition to them, however pharmacies have but to strike a nationwide deal.

Two circumstances in opposition to pharmacies have been tried to a verdict.

One, introduced by two Ohio counties, resulted in a jury verdict in opposition to Walgreens, Walmart and CVS Well being Corp (CVS.N) final 12 months, and a judgment of greater than $650 million final month.

The opposite, introduced by San Francisco in opposition to Walgreens, resulted in a decide holding the corporate liable in August. A second part of that trial to determine on a cash judgment is scheduled for subsequent month.

Walgreens and CVS additionally settled mid-trial with Florida for $683 million and $484 million, respectively. Walmart and CVS settled with West Virginia final month for $82.5 million and $65 million, respectively, per week earlier than a scheduled trial.

Walgreens is scheduled to face trial in West Virginia subsequent June.

Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Enhancing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Invoice Berkrot

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