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CLEVELAND -- A federal judge in Cleveland awarded $650 million in damages Wednesday to two Ohio counties that won a landmark lawsuit against national pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens and Walmart,
Two Ohio counties will receive $650 million in damages after winning a landmark case against the national pharmacy chains for their opioid distribution.
The damage awards are meant to help the two counties abate a continuing opioid crisis.
Walmart and Walgreens say they will appeal the US judgement that blamed the pharmacies for opioid distribution.
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It was the first time pharmacy companies completed a trial to defend themselves in a drug crisis that has killed a half-million Americans since 1999.