Jewel-Osco Owners Owe $773M In Opioid Crisis Settlement: IL Attorney General

CHICAGO — Albertsons, which operates nearly 200 Jewel-Osco grocery stores in Illinois, has agreed to a national settlement in principle to pay more than $773 million for its role in the opioid crisis. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said Tuesday negotiations with the grocery chain with the are being led jointly with the attorneys general of California, Colorado and Oregon.

"This settlement in principle with Albertsons will build upon the important progress we've already achieved through previous settlements to fight the ongoing opioid epidemic," Raoul said during a press conference in Chicago.

According to Raoul's office, the financial terms are not yet final, and the settlement still depends on agreement over what it called critical business practice changes. Negotiations are continuing on injunctive relief terms.

The agreement applies only in states where Albertsons operates. In addition to Jewel-Osco in Illinois, the company owns and operates stores across the country, including Safeway, Randalls, Shaw's, Acme Markets and United Supermarkets.

"This settlement framework marks a significant step toward resolving opioid-related litigation, and Albertsons Cos. believes the settlement framework is in the best interest of all parties," Albertsons said in a statement on its website. "This settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing or liability."

To date, national investigations and litigation against the pharmaceutical industry over the opioid crisis have produced more than $50 billion in settlements, according to Raoul's office. Illinois' share of those settlements is more than $1.4 billion.

"I will continue to hold companies accountable while ensuring the resources Illinois receives through settlements are distributed equitably throughout the state to help fund the services needed to mitigate the impact of opioid addiction," Raoul said.

The proposed agreement sets a total potential payment Albertsons would make to eligible state and local governments, though the attorney general's office said important negotiations remain before any final settlement is completed.