On November 4, Attorney General Rob Bonta
announced the completion of an opioid settlement with Kroger,
an American retail company that operates supermarkets and
multi-department stores throughout the United States.
According to the announcement, the settlement represents the
completion of a $1.37 billion settlement agreement with
Kroger addressing the grocery chain’s role in the opioid crisis.
California will receive up to $122 million for opioid abatement,
with payments anticipated to begin early next year. The
settlement will resolve allegations that the company failed to
appropriately oversee the dispensing of opioids at its
pharmacies.
In the settlement, Kroger has agreed to injunctive relief that
requires its pharmacies to monitor, report, and share data about
suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions. Kroger
operates in California through a number of subsidiaries,
including principally Ralph’s.
A copy of the multi-state settlement agreement, which must still
be entered by a state court judge, is available
here.
