CLEVELAND (AP) — A group of state attorneys general is pushing officials from other state and local governments to accept a $48 billion deal to settle all the opioid-related lawsuits against two drugmakers and the three biggest distributors.
But it’s not going to be an easy sell.
In a statement Monday, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the deal, described as a framework, is “a pile of lumber that’s been dropped on the construction site.”
“This isn’t a framework, it’s a pile of lumber that’s been dropped on the construction site. Ohio will wait and see what the detailed plan looks like. Right now, three of the four attorneys general haven’t even sued the distributors – and they don’t speak for Ohio.” –Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost
The attorneys general reiterated the key points Monday of a deal that was in the works but not completed last week.
Their public push for it came hours after four of the five companies involved announced a narrow settlement with Cuyahoga and Summit counties to avert a trial that would have begun Monday.