By Dietrich Knauth

(Reuters) – Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ) was accused of being part of the opioid epidemic in Florida. The jury trial began Monday.

Walgreens is accused by the state of failing to supervise its distribution and dispensing opioids in Florida. This allowed drugs to go to illicit use, increasing addiction. Walgreens denies the accusations.

The jury selection process began April 5th with the opening statements of attorneys scheduled for Monday in Pasco County Circuit Court before Judge Kimberly Sharpe Byrd.

Following an investigation of the records-keeping practices and the efforts it made to avoid the diversion, Florida settled for just $3,000 in 2012.

CVS Health Corp, Walgreens’ rival pharmacy chain (NYSE:), will be paying $484 Million under the settlements announced by its co-defenants. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, drugmakers Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, and Abbvie Inc’s Allergan (NYSE) units will each pay $134.2 Million, Endo International Plc will be paid $65 Million, and Endo International Plc will pay $134.2M. [L2N2VX2DY]

Walgreens maintained that it was exempted from any future state opioid claims under the 2012 contract, even though Florida considered those terms a “bad bargain,” as court transcripts indicate.

Florida said that the Walgreens position was “absurd” in the same court transcript. The earlier agreement only addressed one record-keeping breach. Settlements with the other defendants totaled $878 millions.

Ashley Moody, Florida attorney general, said that Florida has received more than $3B in opioid litigation against drugmakers distributors and pharmacists. The state will spend most of this money to address the opioid crisis.

Recent settlements have been made by many companies that are facing accusations over their involvement in the opioid epidemic. This has resulted in more than 500,000 deaths in America from overdoses over the last two decades according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been more than 3300 lawsuits filed against pharmacies, drug distributors and drugmakers over this crisis.