Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay nearly $150M to Washington for role in opioid epidemic
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 9 months AGO
SEATTLE — Johnson & Johnson will pay nearly $150 million to Washington for its role in the opioid epidemic, the Washington State Office of Attorney General announced Tuesday.
The $149.5 million resolution will be paid in a lump sum this fiscal year. It is an increase over a rejected settlement that would have paid $98.9 million over a nine-year term.
“We have an urgent need for resources to address the fentanyl crisis that is impacting communities in every corner of the state,” Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a release. “We are standing up to some of the largest corporations in the world that fueled the epidemic in pursuit of profit, and we are winning critical resources that must be used to address the harm. We have now recovered more than $1.2 billion to improve treatment options, support first responders, and invest in other proven strategies to combat this crisis — and we’re not done.”
Prior to Johnson & Johnson, Ferguson had rejected settlements from four other corporations in 2022; a resolution with Purdue Pharma required the corporation to pay $183 million, $113 million more than the national deal, and a case against McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp. led to a $518 million resolution — $46 million more than the national settlement.
Johnson & Johnson is required to pay the full resolution within 21 days of the deal being ratified by local governments, which must be done by May.
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Connell woman killed in Booker Road crash
CONNELL — Charges are pending against a Kennewick man following a collision about 12 miles south of Othello that killed a Connell woman and injured three other people Tuesday evening. A Washington State Patrol press memo said intoxicating substances were a factor. Jessica Zarate, 37, Connell, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near the intersection of SR 17 and South Booker Road, the WSP memo said. She was driving south on Booker Road approaching the intersection when her car was hit by a pickup driven by John Reiss, 62, Kennewick. Edgar Garcia Quirino, 28, Othello, was driving north on SR 17 and ran into Zarate's car, the WSP memo said. The crash occurred at about 6:40 p.m.
Wheeler Road closed because of traffic collision
UPDATE: The road was reopened as of noon, according to a GCSO media release. MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office has announced there is a road closure between Road 3-NE and Road S-NE. There was a serious traffic collision. GCSO is asking for drivers to avoid the area and find alternative routes. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Doors opening: The Currents will provide homeownership for more local workers
About 104 homes are planned at the former Atlas sawmill site
Teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers who keep Coeur d’Alene running will soon have more places to buy a home in the community where they work. About 104 homes are being planned to be built at Atlas Waterfront, on roughly 10 acres that are part of a swath of land that was once home to the Atlas sawmill and is being redeveloped. Ignite CDA, the city of Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency, is leading this effort.