Seattle (April 20, 2023) – This week, Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison signed an agreement joining a nationwide settlement with five companies that produced or sold opioids: Walgreens, Teva, Allergan, CVS, and Walmart. The settlement should bring approximately $14 million to the City of Seattle over the next 15 years, with most of that amount coming in the next seven years.
“Opioid addiction has altered the fabric of our society with irreparable harm to the City of Seattle and family members who lost loved ones to overdose. This settlement continues our effort to hold companies accountable for their role in this national tragedy,” said City Attorney Ann Davison. “I hope that these settlement funds will provide respite and treatment for those who continue to suffer and prevent more Seattle residents from becoming trapped in the addiction crisis.”
In 2017, the City of Seattle sued Teva and Allergan in King County Superior Court, and in 2019 Seattle sued Walgreens in King County Superior Court. The cases were later removed to the national multi-district litigation in U.S. District Court. Under the terms of the settlement agreements, which also include CVS and Walmart, and a separate settlement fund allocation agreement with the State of Washington, the State will receive up to $434 million. Of that amount, the State retains $217 million. The other $217 million will be shared among participating local governments across the state.
These funds are required to be used for opioid remediation to abate the opioid crisis in our community. The agreement was finalized Tuesday, April 18th, 2023.