On October 26, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $297 million in an effort to resolve claims that it furthered the opioid epidemic in Texas. The settlement terms, according to Texas AG, Ken Paxton, “largely track” the proposed national settlement, but will guarantee Texas a faster payout than it would receive in the national settlement. Full payout is subject to agreement by 96% of the local Texas governments who have filed lawsuits against J&J; they have 45 days to decide. J&J will not admit wrongdoing, and in a statement by J&J’s attorneys, will “’continue to defend against any litigation that the final agreement does not resolve.’”