San Francisco could millions in Kroger Co. opioid settlement

(The Center Square)- The city of San Francisco will receive up to $3.4 million as part of a national settlement from Kroger Co. for the company’s alleged “improper and unlawful” dispensing of prescription opioids at its pharmacies.

Kroger Co. and several states have agreed to the national settlement to resolve multiple government claims, according to documents from a July 18 Government Audit and Oversight Committee meeting .

The Cincinnati-based grocery store chain is one of the largest across the country and is in the spotlight for a national opioid settlement spanning several states.

San Francisco has not filed its own lawsuit against Kroger Co. However, it can participate in the national settlement if the city comes to a resolution by dismissing any claims in exchange for the $1.3 million to $3.4 million settlement, which will be paid out over 11 years, according to documents .

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman sued Kroger Co. in March for its participation in the opioid pandemic, with Coleman stating in the press release that the company knowingly made these drugs too accessible and never created a formal system, training or guidelines to report suspicious activity or abuse, and reportedly bringing more than 4 billion morphine-milligram equivalents of opioids to Kentucky from 2006 to 2019, while distributing almost 194 million hydrocodone pills through its Kentucky pharmacies.

The San Francisco mayor’s office did not respond to an email seeking comment.