Whistleblower loses fee bid in Walgreens' $4.7 billion settlement with US states
WBA•A federal judge denied pharmacist T.J. Novak’s bid for a share of Walgreens’ $4.7 billion settlement with more than two dozen states over opioid-related claims. The judge said Novak must pursue his claims in the courts of the states involved.
1. Judge rejects fee request
U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow said she lacked authority to require individual states to set aside part of their settlements with Walgreens Boots Alliance for Novak. She said the claims turn on unresolved laws in 28 states, whose courts should decide them.
2. Related federal settlement
Novak brought a federal case against Walgreens in 2018, alleging it filled illegal opioid prescriptions and sought reimbursement from government health programs. The U.S. government joined the case and reached a $300 million settlement with Walgreens, which denied wrongdoing; Novak said he received more than $25 million, or 17.25% of the funds tied to his federal False Claims Act allegations.
