CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey recently announced three settlements totaling around 135 million, addressing issues ranging from antitrust concerns to consumer complaints.
Morrisey’s office will distribute $3.5 million to the state’s 55 counties and 229 cities from a settlement involving Pfizer and Ranbaxy. The lawsuit alleged the companies delayed the introduction of a cheaper, generic version of Lipitor, causing inflated costs for consumers. Distribution of funds, based on population size, requires no action from the counties or cities.
Counties will receive $1.63 million, with 12 counties under 10,000 people getting $10,000 each, 32 counties with 10,000–50,000 people receiving $30,000 each, and 11 counties over 50,000 people getting $50,000 each. Cities will receive $1.855 million, with Class 2 cities (pop. 10,000–50,000) receiving $25,000 each, Class 3 cities (pop. 2,000–10,000) getting $15,000 each, and Class 4 cities (pop. under 2,000) receiving $5,000 each. “This is a big win for the free market and consumers,” Morrisey said.
A separate settlement with Altice USA resolves over 2,300 complaints regarding poor internet service and customer care under the Optimum and former Suddenlink brands. Altice agreed to invest $119.5 million in West Virginia to upgrade internet infrastructure, provide consumer credits, and make penalty payments. The settlement includes $75 million already invested since 2021, $40 million in upgrades planned for 2025–2027, $4 million in consumer credits, and a $500,000 state payment. Altice will face up to $40 million in fines if upgrades are not completed by December 2027.
Morrisey also announced a $12 million settlement with American Optical Corp. to resolve allegations the company made, marketed and sold defective respirators/dust masks in West Virginia.
The suit against American Optical alleged that the company violated the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act by making untrue, deceptive or misleading representations in its advertising, marketing, promotion, distribution and sale of respiratory protection equipment in West Virginia.
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My question is why is it the Counties get to split the amount awarded in the Lipitor lawsuit yet it was us the consumers who were shelling out the extra money to the drug companies so why is this money not being split amongst the consumers in this case? I don't remember Kanawha County offering to pay for it when I picked it up so they aren't out a thing!
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My question is why is it the Counties get to split the amount awarded in the Lipitor lawsuit yet it was us the consumers who were shelling out the extra money to the drug companies so why is this money not being split amongst the consumers in this case? I don't remember Kanawha County offering to pay for it when I picked it up so they aren't out a thing!
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