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Several state attorneys general are in favor of a
$26 billion opioid settlement against three of the nation’s largest drug distributors and opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. It would put an end to thousands of lawsuits.
But West Virginia will opt out in hopes of local governments being able to pursue lawsuits on their own, the attorney general said Wednesday.
“West Virginia is a resounding ‘no’ on these agreements and will continue to litigate and negotiate outside the framework of today’s announcement,” said Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.
The state previously settled with all three drug distributors (
AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health) for a total of more than $70 million. That means the state wouldn’t be eligible for these companies’ portion of the settlement anyway.