Jeff Gaddy, Peter Mougey Among Law360’s “Legal Lions” For Work Leading to Albertson’s $900M Verdict

Levin Papantonio attorneys Jeff Gaddy and Peter Mougey were recognized among Law360’s “Legal Lions of the Week” for their role in helping the Washington Attorney General’s Office win a $900 million verdict against Albertsons over its contribution to the state’s opioid epidemic. The verdict is believed to be the highest ever against a single company in the State of Washington.

On Nov. 5, the court ordered Albertsons to pay $800 million to fund its portion of a $24- 30 billion abatement plan that is intended to address prescription opioid abuse over the coming years. The company was also ordered to pay a $100 million fine for violations of the state’s Consumer Protection Act.

Gaddy and Mougey, both shareholders at LP, were designated as Special Assistant Attorneys General and served on the trial team. They are highly experienced in managing complex and mass litigation related to opioids.

Gaddy has represented more than 700 local and state governments in claims against pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers of opioids for their roles in contributing to the opioid epidemic across the country.

Mougey served in leadership roles in the National Prescription Opiate and Pharmacy Litigation, MDL 2804. He was also credited as one of the key negotiators in the nearly $60 billion settlement agreements with opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and drug distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson.

The Washington state attorney general sued Albertsons, Kroger, and Rite Aid in 2022, alleging their pharmacy chains helped fuel the state’s opioid epidemic by illegally and negligently filling “red flag” prescriptions.

Claims against Kroger and Rite Aid were dismissed before trial, either through settlement or bankruptcy.
Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2023. Six months later, the Washington state attorney general secured a $47.5 million settlement from Kroger.

On Thursday, the court ruled in favor of the state’s claims that the company violated the Consumer Protection Act and was a public nuisance by contributing to Washington’s opioid crisis.

The case is State of Washington v. Rite Aid Corp. et al., Case No. 22-2-20910-1, in King County Superior Court.