WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Friday that they have initiated a legal suit against Walgreens, a leading pharmacy chain, accusing it of knowingly dispensing numerous prescriptions that lacked a valid medical rationale.

Should Walgreens be held accountable, the company, which stands as one of the largest pharmacy networks in the U.S. with more than 8,000 outlets nationwide, could potentially face severe financial penalties. Each unlawful prescription could cost up to $80,850, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.