Albertsons must pay $900M for role in WA opioid crisis, judge rules

SEATTLE — Grocery giant Albertsons must pay Washington state $900 million for its pharmacies’ role in fueling the opioid epidemic, a judge ruled Thursday.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said this is believed to be the largest verdict in state history. It came after a 9-week trial before King County Superior Court Judge Janet Helson.

Washington has now won nearly $2.2 billion for state and local governments in numerous cases against drug manufacturers and distributors in recent years. The money goes toward resources to prevent drug abuse and overdoses. But it’ll take a while for the $900 million to reach Washington, as Albertsons can appeal Helson’s verdict.

The state alleged Albertsons, which owns Safeway and Haggen and runs more than 200 pharmacies in Washington, dispensed 641 million opioid pills between 2006 and 2022. Many of those prescriptions had red flags that should’ve been investigated before distributing the pills, according to Brown’s office.

“This is a victory for the people of the state of Washington,” Brown told reporters after the verdict. “It is a victory that affirms that when corporations put safety measures at risk, when they do not prioritize their customers, when they are focused not on safety, that they will be held accountable.”

Albertsons filled prescriptions more than 6.5 million times without showing that pharmacists had confirmed doctors wrote them for legitimate medical purposes, according to the state. 

This led to them being diverted for illicit use as an epidemic roared across Washington, and the nation. Here, opioid overdoses have claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Albertsons has been defending against similar claims across the country. In April, the grocery chain agreed to pay $774 million to settle numerous other lawsuits filed across the country. 

In a statement, Albertsons said it was “disappointed by the court’s ruling and respectfully disagrees with its conclusions.” 

“We are reviewing the decision closely and will evaluate all available options, including appeal,” the company said. “We are proud of our pharmacists and their dedication to the patients and communities they serve, and we will continue to support our customers and communities across Washington through responsible pharmacy operations.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.