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AKRON, Ohio (AP) — The Latest on litigation over opioids (all times local):
5:10 p.m.
A second drugmaker has agreed to settle lawsuits brought by two Ohio counties over the opioid crisis.
Frank Gallucci, a lawyer for Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County, told Cleveland.com and other media outlets that Allergan (AL'-ur-gan) has agreed to pay $5 million to settle claims related to its branded opioids.
He says the settlement does not resolve claims over its generic drugs. The Dublin, Ireland-based company has not returned calls seeking comment.
Endo Pharmaceuticals also announced a $10 million settlement Tuesday with Cuyahoga and Summit counties. They are home to the cities of Cleveland and Akron.
A trial over the counties' claims against several drugmakers and distributors is scheduled for October.
They are the first of about 2,000 cases in line for trial in federal courts over the toll of prescription opioids.
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12:30 p.m.
Endo Pharmaceuticals has reached a settlement with the first two Ohio counties set to go to trial in the national opioid lawsuit.
The Dublin-based drugmaker said Tuesday that it's agreed to pay Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) and Summit counties in Ohio a total of $10 million and to provide up to $1 million of free medication. The counties will determine how the settlement is divided.
As part of the deal, the company admits no wrongdoing, fault or liability related to the U.S. opioid epidemic that's prompted thousands of lawsuits by local governments, states and hospitals seeking damages.
An Endo official said the settlement's favorable for the company, costing roughly what would have been spent to carry the litigation through a trial set for in October.
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