Attorney General Josh Kaul announced Wednesday that Wisconsin would not be one of the states included in a settlement with Purdue Pharma over its role in the opioid epidemic.
About half of the states involved in the suit settled with the opioid manufacturer for a total of up to $12 billion, according to the AP.
Kaul alleges the settlement does not properly reprimand the Sackler family, Purdue Pharma owners, and therefore does not achieve justice for those involved.
“The Sackler family has made billions of dollars from the sale of opioids," Kaul said in a statement. "Wisconsin has alleged that two Purdue Pharma entities and Richard Sackler contributed to the opioid epidemic through unlawful conduct. We’re committed to getting justice and, in my view, Purdue’s current position doesn’t achieve that.”
Kaul is currently locked in a legislative and legal battle with members of the state legislature over lame-duck bills passed under former Gov. Scott Walker that require him to receive approval from the Joint Finance Committee before settling.
Republican members including Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, of the committee contend Kaul is to blame for the delay in agreement.
“It's clear the attorney general did not need signed secrecy agreements to share case information,” the two said in a joint statement. “Now we know there wasn't an 'emergency' settlement to present to the committee two weeks ago. The attorney general should stop playing games, follow the law, and work with the Joint Committee on Finance."
Darling and Nygren also expressed concern over how Kaul’s lack of settling reached the public.
“Through media reports, the attorney general stated Wisconsin is not one of the states agreeing to settle the Purdue Pharma case at this time,” the two said. “We hope those reporters have signed non-disclosure agreements, because they are getting 'confidential' information from the attorney general that he refused to share with members of the Joint Committee on Finance.”
