The decision against the trio of major corporations marks the first time the retail arm of the pharmaceutical industry has been held liable in the long-standing epidemic of opioid overdoses and fatalities.
"For decades, pharmacy chains have watched as the pills flowing out of their doors cause harm and failed to take action as required by law," the lawyers for the two counties, along with attorneys for local governments across the country, said in a statement after the verdict.
"The judgment today against Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS represents the overdue reckoning for their complicity in creating a public nuisance," the statement read.