Kenosha Opts Into $774M Albertsons Opioid Settlement
The Kenosha Common Council voted unanimously to join the class-action settlement, which resolves claims about how Albertsons pharmacies handled red flag prescriptions.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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Kenosha's Common Council voted unanimously on Monday, Nov. 2, to opt into the $774 million class-action settlement with Albertsons over opioid prescriptions. Albertsons agreed to the settlement in April without admitting wrongdoing or liability.
Why it matters
The settlement addresses allegations that Albertsons pharmacies failed to identify red flag prescriptions and refused to fill prescriptions with concerns. Kenosha's participation directs local funds toward remediating the broader opioid epidemic.
The settlement totals $774 million, with about $665 million earmarked for remediation by 34 states and the District of Columbia. Kenosha's eligible share is about $31,600, though how the city will allocate these funds has not been specified.
The players
Albertsons
Albertsons is a major American supermarket chain whose pharmacies were the subject of the class-action lawsuit over opioid prescriptions.
Jacob Fricke
Jacob Fricke is Kenosha's Assistant City Attorney, who communicated the city's prior opioid settlement opt-ins in a letter.
The details
Albertsons made no admission of wrongdoing in the settlement, which resolves claims that its pharmacies failed to flag suspicious opioid prescriptions. Kenosha previously opted into similar opioid settlements with Purdue Pharma and Sandoz, Inc., and Assistant City Attorney Jacob Fricke communicated those prior opt-ins in a letter. Wisconsin is among three states receiving funds despite having no Albertsons stores, alongside Florida and Missouri.
Timeline
April: Albertsons agreed to settle the class-action lawsuit for approximately $774 million.
Monday, Nov. 2: Kenosha's Common Council unanimously voted to opt into the settlement.
Legal Context
Kenosha's vote continues a pattern established by its earlier opt-ins to the Purdue Pharma and Sandoz, Inc. opioid settlements. Like those earlier agreements, the Albertsons settlement directs money toward abating the opioid epidemic through multistate participation.
Kenosha residents will not see direct changes to prescriptions or pharmacy service from this vote. The settlement's funds will instead flow to city and state programs aimed at opioid remediation, though specific local uses have not been announced.
The takeaway
Participation in multistate opioid settlements means local governments can receive funds for remediation even when no defendant operates locally, as Wisconsin's share illustrates. Residents interested in how those dollars are spent can ask city officials for their allocation plans.
Further reading
For more on efforts to address addiction locally, explore Substance Abuse coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wisconsin State Journal.
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