Walmart Settles U.S. Government's Opioid Lawsuit
Walmart has reached an undisclosed settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations that its pharmacies violated federal drug laws by dispensing opioids improperly since 2013. The lawsuit, filed in 2020, accused Walmart of failing to comply with the Controlled Substances Act and could have led to billions in civil penalties. The settlement resolves one of the most significant Justice Department cases against a single company related to the opioid epidemic. A federal judge had previously dismissed some claims but allowed others regarding invalid prescriptions to proceed. In 2022, Walmart already settled similar lawsuits from state and local governments for $3.1 billion, while CVS and Walgreens reached larger settlements. Walmart's shares rose slightly in morning trading following the announcement.
Topics: lawsuits opioid epidemic pharmacies retail