Cities, counties and states, backed by the Justice Department, have filed lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies and retail pharmacies, in what could be the largest opioid litigation in U.S. history since the tobacco lawsuits.

The lawsuits are alleging that the pharmaceutical companies spent millions to lesson the public concern over opioid addiction with false advertising and to lobby physicians to prescribe the drugs more.

They also argue that retail pharmacies such as CVS, Wallgreens, and Walmart downplayed the harmful effects of the opioids and actively misled the public.

What this litigation has going for it, unlike the tobacco cases in the 1990’s, is the plethora of medical records available. These collective lawsuits also make it more likely that the states will be prioritized when it comes time to receive money.

The Justice Department, under Jeff Sessions, had planned on filing their own federal lawsuit against the pharmaceutical companies. The Cherokee Nation has also filed lawsuits against the drug suppliers in Tribal Court.

Due to the success of the settlement against tobacco companies, the cities, counties, and states, could have a strong, albeit slow, case ahead of them against the pharmaceutical companies and retail pharmacies.

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