AG Kaul joins settlement with Purdue Pharma

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced on Monday that he is joining 54 other attorneys general in a proposed $7.4 billion settlement agreement against Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family. This settlement is in response to their alleged role in creating and worsening the opioid crisis nationwide. According to a statement, the Sackler family has informed the attorneys general of their intention of proceeding with the settlement, which would resolve litigation against Purdue and the Sacklers for their alleged role. Purdue Pharma manufactured and aggressively marketed opioid products for decades, which has fueled the largest drug crisis in U.S. history, as alleged in the court cases. The state of Wisconsin and local governments would receive as much as $80.1 million from this settlement over the next 15 years. The next step in the settlement process is for local governments across the country to be asked to join the settlement contingent on bankruptcy court proceedings.