Kroger has finalized its $1.37 billion opioid settlement with 30 states, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced Monday.
The settlement includes about $149 million to cover lawyers’ fees and costs, which is nearly 11% of the total amount.
Kroger has agreed to injunctive relief that requires its pharmacies to monitor, report and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions, Miyares noted.
The agreement settles the majority of the claims brought by states, counties and Native American tribes that accused the grocer of contributing to the opioid crisis, The Hill reported.
The attorneys general for California, North Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, Tennessee and Virginia led the settlement negotiations. California will receive up to $122 million for opioid abatement, while Colorado will receive almost $70 million and Tennessee will receive up to $42.9 million. North Carolina, Illinois and Oregon will each receive about $40 million, while Virginia will get up to $29.4 million.
Attorneys general involved in the lawsuit said that the settlement will help their states fund measures aimed at preventing, reducing and treating addiction.
Kroger announced the nearly $1.4 billion opioid settlement during its second quarter of last year and noted last September that it dampened that quarter’s financial results.
