The Greene County Commission has released details on how much money the county can expect to receive as part of a settlement with pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson over its distribution of opioid drugs.
Press Release
In February, 2022, on behalf of Missouri’s cities and counties, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office reached a settlement with pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson over its distribution of opioid drugs. Below are the general terms of the agreement:
- Counties’ and Cities’ share will approximately be 44%, while the state will receive 56% of the settlement proceeds attributable to these defendants.
- Greene County to be paid $2,117,470, minus 9% attorneys’ fees, payable over 18 years.
- For budgetary purposes, 85% of the amount Greene County receives must be spent on opioid-related programs. 15% may be spent on non-opioid-related costs.
- Attorneys for Greene County anticipate the first payment in the settlement will be made between April and July of 2022. That will be followed by another payment in the fall of 2022.
The Greene County Commission has approved this agreement; however, this proposed settlement is not a guarantee of funds.
In addition to this settlement, attorneys for the County anticipate more funding from the Purdue and Mallinckrodt bankruptcies, as well as additional settlements from other defendants.
“The Commission has taken this next step as part of its efforts to mitigate the damage done to the people of our community as a result of over prescribing and irresponsible use of prescription drugs. We will continue our efforts,” said Bob Dixon, Presiding Commissioner.
