Crimes and Courts
Walgreens, Florida settle opioid costs lawsuit for $683M
Published
3 years agoon

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Walgreens pharmacy chain has reached a $683 million settlement with the state of Florida in a lawsuit accusing the company of improperly dispensing millions of painkillers that contributed to the opioid crisis, state officials said Thursday.
State Attorney General Ashley Moody said the deal was struck after four weeks of government evidence was presented at trial. Walgreens was the 12th and final defendant to settle with Florida, which will bring in more than $3 billion for the state to tackle opioid addiction and overdoses.
“We now go into battle armed and ready to fight back hard against this manmade crisis,” Moody said at a news conference in Tampa. “I am glad that we have been able to end this monumental litigation and move past the courtroom.”
Walgreens, based in Deerfield, Illinois, said in a statement the company did not admit wrongdoing in the deal, during which $620 million will be paid to the state over 18 years and a one-time sum of $63 million for attorney fees. Walgreens operates more than 9,000 stores in all 50 states, according to the company website. About 820 of those locations are in Florida.
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma has a tentative nationwide deal that includes $6 billion in cash from members of the Sackler family who own the company. In all, settlements, civil and criminal penalties around the country since 2007 have totaled over $45 billion, according to an Associated Press tally.
The Florida case hinged on accusations that as Walgreens dispensed more than 4.3 billion total opioid pills in Florida from May 2006 to June 2021, more than half contained one or more easily recognized red flags for abuse, fraud and addiction that the company should have noticed and acted upon.
The opioid epidemic has been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. over the past two decades, counting those from prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and generic oxycodone as well as illicit drugs such as heroin and illegally produced fentanyl.
In the same case, CVS Health Corp. and CVS Pharmacy Inc. agreed to pay the state $484 million. Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. agreed to pay $195 million and Allergan PLC more than $134 million.
Florida has previously obtained millions of dollars in opioid settlements involving McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., Johnson & Johnson Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp.
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Crimes and Courts
Orange County Clerk Expands Self Help Legal Services to Winter Park
Published
3 weeks agoon
April 1, 2025
WINTER PARK, Fla. (FNN) – Residents in need of affordable legal assistance can now access Self Help services at the Orange County Clerk of Courts’ new Winter Park location. This marks the second Self Help Center in Orange County, expanding affordable legal consultations beyond the main Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando.
Affordable Legal Help for the Community
Orange County Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell first introduced Self Help services in 2015 to support individuals who cannot afford an attorney but need legal guidance. The new Winter Park courthouse location continues that mission by providing low-cost legal consultations.
Attorney Consultations for Just $1 Per Minute
Residents can schedule a legal consultation for $1 per minute, available in 15-minute sessions, with a maximum of one hour per day. These services offer guidance on legal forms and procedures but do not include court representation.
What Legal Services Are Available?
The Self Help Center assists with:
Family Law Cases (excluding restraining orders):
Child Custody
Divorce
Paternity
Small Claims (for disputes under $8,000)
Residential Evictions
How to Access Self Help Legal Services
- Winter Park Courthouse: In-person consultations available on Thursdays
- Downtown Orlando Courthouse: In-person consultations available on Tuesdays
- Virtual Consultations: Available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) provides the attorneys for consultations. However, these attorneys cannot represent clients in court.
Additional Services Available:
- Legal Form Completion Assistance
- Notary Services
- Document Copy Services
For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit the Orange County Clerk of Courts website at www.myorangeclerk.com.
Crimes and Courts
Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Poinciana Stabbing, Osceola Deputies Says
Published
2 months agoon
March 8, 2025
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) – A man is in custody after allegedly stabbing a woman multiple times in a violent attack early Friday morning, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to a 911 call at approximately 1:20 a.m. on March 7, 2025, reporting a stabbing at a residence in Poinciana, Florida. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered a female victim suffering from multiple stab wounds. Authorities quickly identified Julio Ramos-Aleman as the suspect in the brutal attack.
According to investigators, Ramos-Aleman fled the scene in his vehicle before deputies arrived. Detectives immediately launched an investigation and secured an arrest warrant for Attempted Murder. Through rapid investigative efforts, they were able to track down Ramos-Aleman and take him into custody.
Ramos-Aleman has since been arrested for Attempted Murder and booked into the Osceola County Jail with no bond. Officials have not yet released further details about the victim’s condition or what may have led to the attack.
What’s Next?
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident. Authorities encourage anyone with additional information to contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS to assist in the case.
Crimes and Courts
FBI Arrests LGBTQ+ Democrat Leader Matthew Inman on Child Porn Charges
Published
3 months agoon
January 25, 2025
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – The arrest of prominent LGBTQ+ leader Matthew A. Inman, 39, has sent shockwaves through Central Florida. The suspended Orange County Democratic Party’s Treasurer and President of the Rainbow Democrats now faces federal charges of transporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM), according to the United States Attorney’s Office Middle District of Florida.
Details of the Arrest and Charges
The FBI, as part of an extensive investigation, uncovered evidence that between August and October 2024, Inman received and stored multiple videos depicting child sexual abuse. These videos, stored on his phone, allegedly showed graphic acts of sexual assault on young children.
In October 2024, Inman traveled to Las Vegas, where he engaged in explicit online conversations with an undercover FBI officer posing as the father of a 9-year-old boy. **Inman expressed interest in meeting and sexually abusing the child, even going so far as to send additional CSAM videos to the undercover officer.**
When the FBI executed a search warrant at Inman’s Orlando residence, he attempted to delete evidence from his phone and hide in the attic. However, investigators were able to recover electronic devices containing incriminating material.
United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the filing of a criminal complaint against Inman, charging him with the transportation of child sexual abuse material. If convicted, Inman faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, with a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
Responses from Organizations
Following Inman’s arrest, several organizations distanced themselves from him and issued strong statements condemning his alleged actions:
Orange County Democratic Party Statement in Response to the Arrest of Matthew Inman:
Statement by the Rainbow Democrats Board in Response to the Arrest of Matthew Inman:
Visit Orlando
The tourism organization, where Inman was previously employed, confirmed his termination, stating, We are devastated to learn of these allegations and have ended his employment with immediate effect.”
Key Highlights
– FBI arrested Matthew Inman on federal child pornography charges.
– Allegations include possession of CSAM and attempts to meet a child for sexual abuse.
– Organizations, including the Orange County Democratic Party and Rainbow Democrats, severed ties with Inman and condemned his actions.
– Case brought under Project Safe Childhood to combat child exploitation.
About Project Safe Childhood
This case was pursued under **Project Safe Childhood**, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child exploitation. The program unites federal, state, and local agencies to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in the sexual exploitation of children. It also focuses on identifying and rescuing victims.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood and how to report suspected exploitation, visit [www.justice.gov/psc](https://www.justice.gov/psc).
Ongoing Legal Process
It’s important to note that the charges against Matthew Inman are allegations at this stage. **A criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.**
This case remains under investigation by the FBI, and Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan is leading the prosecution.
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