12:38 PM EDT, 04/23/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Kroger ( KR ) has agreed to pay $47.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson in 2022 over the company's involvement in the opioid crisis, according to a statement Tuesday by Ferguson's office.

The lawsuit alleged that Kroger ( KR ) pharmacies filled opioid orders, "recklessly and negligently," without adequately investigating possible fraud or overprescribing.

The $47.5 million will be paid over 11 years, the AG statement said. The first payment of $4.3 million will come within a few months of the resolution being finalized by the litigating states and local jurisdictions.

Kroger ( KR ) did not immediately reply to MT Newswires' request for comment.

Shares of the company were down 1.3% in recent trading.

Price: 55.99, Change: -0.94, Percent Change: -1.65