Additional distributors settle in county opioid lawsuit

Nassau County will receive approximately $115 million after three drug manufacturers reached a settlement in the ongoing opioid trial in Suffolk County Supreme Court, officials announced on Tuesday, July 19.

Nassau County, Suffolk County and New York State agreed to settle on more than $1 billion in opioid-related lawsuits with drug manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies including McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp. The agreement, which totals $26 billion, includes states other than New York including Connecticut, Delaware, North Carolina, Louisiana and others.

The agreement resolves the claims made by Attorney General Letitia James against the companies roles in aiding the opioid epidemic. This settlement removes the three distributors from the ongoing trial.

"This is a bittersweet moment for me and all of us," James said during a virtual news conference on July 21. "Yes, we’ve reached a settlement after many months and years of negotiation, but it will not bring back the loss of life. But what it will do is provide prevention and education and abatement and beds to those organizations and hospitals who need it now more than ever."

Town Councilman Chris Carini said: “I’m pleased that the drug distributors and companies are being held accountable for their role in the drug use epidemic across our nation and locally. … I certainly hope these funds will be put to good use in education, counseling and treatment services in our communities.”

The settlement payments will be made to states over an 18-year time period, officials said. About $2 billion of the $26 billion will go toward legal fees. Pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson will New York another $230 million dollars, which New York can expect to see within two months, James said.

“Before Nassau went to trial, I made a promise that we would make these companies pay,” Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said at a July 20 press conference. “While no amount of money will replace the countless lives that have been affected, we can save future lives by expanding our support network and increasing funding for mental health and addiction programs, along with prevention efforts.”

The payment made to each state that signs on to the settlement will be calculated based on the state population, the number of overdose deaths, the number of residents with substance use disorder and the number of opioids prescribed, officials said.

“Opioid use and drug addiction are leading killers of Nassau [County] residents. Companies must pay for the damage they’ve done to our families,” New York State Senator Todd Kaminsky said in a press release. “As District Attorney, I will ensure opioid settlement funding is reinvested in nonprofits that work to combat addiction and keep our families safe from predatory dealers.”

In June 2021, Nassau County officials announced the “re-engagement” of “Operation Natalie,” an initiative originally launched in 2018 to fight the opioid crisis. Carini said a relaunch was due after the Covid-19 pandemic shut down operations.

“As a former police officer, I’ve seen the effects of the drug epidemic first hand,” Carini said. “There are no economic boundaries, no racial boundaries the epidemic hits us all hard."