Commonwealth Policy Center

Was Kentucky shortchanged by a settlement with Purdue Pharma? Senate President Robert Stivers believes that’s the case. Purdue Pharma has made several state settlements regarding its painkiller OxyContin which is linked to addiction. In 2015, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway settled with Purdue for $24 million. The settlement was paltry compared to other states that settled for hundreds of millions of dollars. Conway left questions for many because outside attorneys received $5 million and those attorneys were with his former law firm. Conway made the settlement with Purdue just days before he left office. But President Stivers said Kentucky was “shortchanged” in the settlement so he’s calling for an investigation. Purdue Pharma is facing more than 2,600 lawsuits that blame them for fueling the deadly U.S. opioid epidemic.