Share this @internewscast.com

Consulting firm McKinsey & Co has agreed to pay $78 million to resolve claims by U.S. health insurers and benefit plans that it fueled an epidemic of opioid addiction through its work for drug companies including OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma.

The settlement was disclosed in papers filed on Friday in federal court in San Francisco. It marked the last in a series of settlements McKinsey has reached resolving lawsuits over the U.S. opioid epidemic.

Plaintiffs accused McKinsey, one of the leading global consulting firms, of contributing to the deadly drug crisis by helping drug manufacturers including Purdue Pharma design deceptive marketing plans and boost sales of painkillers.

McKinsey previously paid $641.5 million to resolve claims by state attorneys general and another $230 million to resolve claims by local governments. It has also settled cases by Native American tribes.

Friday’s class action settlement, which requires a judge’s approval, resolves claims by so-called third-party payers like insurers that provide health and welfare benefits.

Paul Geller, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, in a statement said the drug crisis was caused by an oversupply of dangerous addictive drugs, and the case aimed to “recover some of the money spent on the over-prescribed pills.”

McKinsey did not admit wrongdoing. In a statement, the firm said it continued to believe its past work was lawful. It also noted it had committed in 2019 to no longer advise clients on any opioid-related business.

Thousands of lawsuits have been filed by states, local governments and Native American tribes accusing drug companies of downplaying the risks of opioid painkillers, and distributors and pharmacies of ignoring red flags that they were being trafficked illegally.

The litigation has resulted in more than $50 billion in settlements with drugmakers, distributors and pharmacy chains.

Nearly 645,000 people died in the United States from overdoses involving opioids, both prescription and illicit, from 1999 to 2021, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month heard a challenge by President Joe Biden’s administration to Purdue Pharma’s multi-billion-dollar bankruptcy settlement resolving related claims against the drugmaker.

Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; editing by Diane Craft

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Couple help secure girls on roller coaster after alleged seat belt malfunction at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri

Heroic Couple Steps In to Safeguard Girls During Roller Coaster Emergency at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City

In Kansas City, Missouri, what was meant to be an exhilarating experience…
Teen driver charged with killing three University of Arizona students in Porsche hit-and-run crosswalk crash

Tragic Hit-and-Run: Teen Driver in Porsche Charged with Fatal Crosswalk Crash Killing Three University of Arizona Students

Tragedy struck near the University of Arizona campus when a speeding Porsche,…
New video purportedly shows Louvre thieves in action during brazen daytime heist

Louvre Museum Heist Unravels: Two New Suspects Charged in Expanding Investigation

Parisian prosecutors have revealed that two additional individuals have been implicated in…
Louvre jewels heist: Two new suspects handed preliminary charges, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau says

Paris Prosecutor Charges Two Suspects in High-Profile Louvre Jewel Heist Case

In a development surrounding the audacious theft of crown jewels at the…
Florida man nabbed by Homeland Security for allegedly making online death threats against ICE 'Gestapo'

Florida Resident Arrested by Homeland Security for Alleged Online Death Threats Against ICE

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Saturday the apprehension of…
Cops release photo of hulking suspect in fatal stabbing of Harlem man, 51

Police Unveil Image of Suspect in Harlem Man’s Fatal Stabbing: Public Assistance Sought

Authorities have released a mugshot of a suspect linked to a fatal…
Ant Anstead reveals details of injuries he sustained while playing soccer

Ant Anstead Opens Up About Soccer-Related Injuries and Recovery Journey

In a recent social media update, Ant Anstead opened up about a…
Ultra-Orthodox protesters in Jerusalem rally over Israel’s draft exemption as clashes break out

Jerusalem Erupts: Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Clash Over Israel’s Military Draft Exemption Controversy

Tens of thousands protest military draft in Jerusalem In a dramatic display…
Heidi Klum Halloween costume: Klum reveals Medusa costume with husband Tom Kaulitz for Halloween 2025

Unveiling the Enchanting: Heidi Klum and Tom Kaulitz’s Dazzling Medusa Halloween 2025 Transformation

NEW YORK — Heidi Klum embraced the Halloween spirit on Friday by…
National Guard, police confront hundreds of juveniles amid Halloween chaos in DC’s Navy Yard

National Guard and Police Address Large Youth Gatherings During Halloween Disruptions in DC’s Navy Yard

A video has surfaced depicting scenes of turmoil in Washington, D.C., during…
Supplements sold at Sam's Club nationwide linked to salmonella outbreak: FDA

FDA Alerts: Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak Tied to Supplements Sold at Sam’s Club

Health officials have linked almost a dozen salmonella cases across seven states…
JSO: Man dies after being found shot on Brentwood Avenue

Tragic Shooting on Brentwood Avenue: Jacksonville Man Succumbs to Injuries

A tragic incident unfolded on Saturday evening when a man in his…