The U.S. government has filed a lawsuit against Rite Aid Corp, accusing the pharmacy chain of missing “red flags” as it illegally filled hundreds of prescriptions for controlled substances. The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Rite Aid for allegedly violating the Controlled Substances Act, alleging that the company ignored red flags and illegally filled prescriptions. Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on October 16, 2023, after losing more than one billion dollars in the months leading up to the filing.
In bankruptcy court documents, Rite Aid said it has been plagued by dead rent costs for underperforming stores and that the company closed more than a thousand federal, state, and local courts. The government’s complaint alleges that from May 2014 through June 2019, Rite Aid knowingly dispensed at least hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose and were not issued in the usual course of professional practice and/or were not.
Rite Aid has filed for bankruptcy protection and plans to sell part of its business as it attempts to restructure while dealing with losses and opioid-related lawsuits. The lawsuit accused Rite Aid of informally incentivizing and pressuring pharmacists to recklessly fill opioid prescriptions regardless of their qualifications. The drugstore chain is facing a slew of lawsuits alleging it helped fuel the opioid epidemic by unlawfully filling prescriptions for the drug.
📹 Allegheny County suing Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid over opioid epidemic
The county claims that from 2006 to 2014, the companies distributed more opioids than were needed.
What is the Rite Aid scandal?
Rite Aid, founded in 1962 as Thrift D Discount Center, faced an accounting scandal in 1999 when it began restating earnings due to accounting irregularities. Six former Rite Aid senior executives were convicted of conspiracy in 2003 for accounting fraud and false filings with the SEC. The company changed its name to Rite Aid Corporation in 1968 and moved its stock to the New York Stock Exchange in 1970.
Rite Aid’s growth was marked by acquisitions like Envision Pharmaceutical Services in 2015 and two merger deals with Walgreens and Albertsons. Former Rite Aid executives admitted to overstating net income between 1997 and 2000.
What went wrong with Rite Aid?
Rite Aid, the third-largest drugstore chain in the United States, has encountered considerable difficulties as a consequence of prolonged mismanagement and misguided decision-making. The company’s decision to file for bankruptcy in October was precipitated by the accumulation of liabilities associated with lawsuits pertaining to the distribution of opioids and the prevailing challenges within the retail pharmacy sector. In an article published by The Wall Street Journal, the company’s unfortunate history was detailed, with particular emphasis placed on the significant losses incurred over an extended period of time.
What is the Rite Aid stock lawsuit?
This lawsuit is based on allegations that defendants Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., Stefano Pessina, and George R. Fairweather made false and misleading statements about the level of regulatory risk faced by the original merger of Rite Aid Corporation and the revised merger. The plaintiffs claim that these statements downplayed or disputated contrary reports from journalists signaling regulatory turbulence and represented that inside knowledge of the Federal Trade Commission’s review process gave confidence in the deal’s closure. They also allege that the Class suffered damages when the alleged truth regarding these matters was publicly disclosed.
Class Members who purchased or otherwise acquired Rite Aid common stock between October 20, 2016 and June 28, 2017, were affected by the lawsuit. The defendants have agreed to pay or cause to be paid $192, 500, 000. 00 in cash, which will be deposited into escrow for the benefit of the Class. The Settlement Fund will be distributed among all Class Members who submit timely, valid Proofs of Claim and Release, following the Court-approved Plan of Allocation after deduction of Court-approved attorneys’ fees and expenses, Notice and Administration Costs, Taxes and Tax Expenses, and any other fees or expenses approved by the Court.
Did Rite Aid CEO quit?
Rite Aid, a US pharmacy chain, has filed for bankruptcy after operating over 2, 000 retail pharmacy locations and planning to close 154 stores. The company now operates around 1, 700 retail pharmacy locations. In January 2023, CEO Heyward Donigan stepped down, and the board decided to identify the next leader. Elizabeth Burr was appointed as interim CEO, and in October, Stein took over as CEO and chief restructuring officer.
Now, CEO and chief restructuring officer, Bruce Bodaken, said that Schroeder is an excellent fit for the company due to his deep understanding of the business. Rite Aid is now beginning its next phase as a transformed company, thanks to the dedication of the entire organization.
Why does Rite Aid lose money?
Rite Aid is facing financial difficulties due to factors beyond its control, including record inflation, lower insurer payments, higher labor costs, lower demand for COVID vaccines and retail merchandise, higher theft, and the loss of key corporate clients. The chain has long-term leases for no-profit stores, including $80 million a year for closed stores. Rite Aid is relying on bankruptcy to exit these deals. Rumors of bankruptcy have also surfaced after hiring restructuring advisers in late 2022, and suppliers have demanded cash payments upfront instead of waiting for the company to sell their goods.
Will Rite Aid go under?
Following the successful conclusion of its financial restructuring and the avoidance of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Rite Aid will transition to a private company.
Why is Rite Aid stock dropping?
Rite Aid has filed for bankruptcy, indicating its intention to close additional stores and appoint a new chief executive officer as part of a restructuring plan.
Who bought out Rite Aid?
Walgreens Boots Alliance agreed to buy Rite-Aid for $17 billion in 2015 to expand its U. S. presence. Rite Aid’s Chapter 11 filing was unexpected as the company had a large debt burden, $1. 5 billion due in 2025, and a projected fiscal 2024 net loss of almost $700 million. The company also faced substantial opioid-related settlement claims from lawsuits accusing it of contributing to an oversupply of the drug.
What will happen to Rite Aid shareholders?
Rite Aid is pursuing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan to liquidate its shares.
Why is Rite Aid closing in California?
Rite Aid has announced the closure of 98 stores in California, representing 14% of the 699 closures announced to date. In October, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to reduce its debt. Of the 699 stores that were the subject of bankruptcy filings, 80 are located in Pennsylvania, the state in which Rite Aid is headquartered. Since filing for bankruptcy in October, the company has been engaged in the process of closing hundreds of stores.
What is the story behind Rite Aid?
In 1962, Alex Grass founded the Rite Aid chain in Scranton, Pennsylvania, after marrying into Harrisburg’s Lehrman family in the 1950s. The first store was Thrift D Discount Center, which expanded into five states in 1965 and went public as Rite Aid in 1968. The chain moved to the New York Stock Exchange in 1970 and operated 267 locations in 10 states. In 1981, it became the third-largest retail drugstore chain in the country. In 1983, it reached a sales milestone of $1 billion.
Rite Aid expanded its holdings by acquiring several stores along the east coast, including stores in Michigan in 1984, Lansing, Michigan in 1987, and Ohio in 1987. The company also acquired Baltimore’s Read’s Drug Store and Peoples Drug’s 114 unit Lane Drug of Ohio in 1989.
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Rite Aid vs CVS Comparison #riteaid officially filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy this week amid immense debt and growing legal …
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