From Local 3 News: K-VA-T Food Stores, known better by the store name of Food City, has reached a settlement with the state of Tennessee over the
From Local 3 News: K-VA-T Food Stores, known better by the store name of Food City, has reached a settlement with the state of Tennessee over the grocery store chain’s opioid-related misconduct.
Most of the settlement of $44.5 million will go to Tennessee’s Opioid Abatement Fund to support local efforts addressing the opioid epidemic.
“Every entity that contributed to the opioid crisis must be held accountable. Our Consumer Protection Division remains relentless in the pursuit of justice and I am proud of their aggressive enforcement in this case,” said Tennessee Attorney General Skrmetti.
“By paying a hefty price to resolve past misconduct, Food City provides critical resources to save lives and protect families and can now get back to the business of serving its customers and supporting Tennessee communities.”
At the time the lawsuit was filed, the attorney general claimed Food City’s pharmacies intentionally profited from the opioid epidemic by unlawfully selling tens of millions of prescription opioids in the state.
Food City has also agreed to ensure future compliance by providing additional training to pharmacy staff, updating the prescription-validation process, and monitoring and reporting data of suspicious activity.
Another part of the settlement includes an agreement by Food City to provide dedicated employment opportunities for Tennesseans recovering from opioid addiction.
