County joins opioid lawsuit
BY ALYSSA MEIER
Editor
McLean County has joined forces with three legal firms working on a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors.
McLean Co. Commissioners approved a motion Tuesday morning to contract with three firms that are taking up arms against Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson and other pharmaceutical companies. The attorney retainer contract with Nachawati Law Firm, Ferrer Poirot & Wansbrough and Motley Rice makes claims ranging from Medicaid Fraud to negligence.
Representatives of the three firms presented their argument to the commission during the Feb. 19 meeting, advising commissioners that the county has undeniably incurred damages due to the opioid crisis. The lawsuit would aim to recoup those costs.
State’s Attorney Ladd Erickson said he supported joining the lawsuit, and that McLean County has had to pay for overdose reversal medication training, additional prisoners and other jail expenses.
