Two local governments in Virginia are reported to be filing civil lawsuits against pharmaceutical manufacturers seeking restitution over funds spent over the last few years fighting the ongoing opioid epidemic in America. In a report from WTOP, the City of Alexandria and Dickenson County filed their respective lawsuits in state court on Wednesday.
The lawsuit in Northern Virginia will seek $100 million in damages for Alexandria and $30 million will be sought by Dickenson County for opioid epidemic damages in southwest Virginia.
The firms Sanford Heisler Sharp and The Cicala Law Firm will be representing the local governments who have named numerous drug makers as the defendants in the cases.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump said that the federal government would join the legal fight states and local governments are taking to big pharma for their “role” in the opioid epidemic. In 2016, over 62,000 Americans died from fatal drug overdoses mostly from prescription painkillers, heroin, and fentanyl.
In a report from CNBC, Trump has spoken with Attorney General Jeff Sessions regarding future action against pharmaceutical companies. The president explained, “I keep saying, If the states are doing it, why isn’t the federal government doing it?” during an appearance at the White House‘s opioid summit.
“So, that will happen,” Trump said. “That will happen.”
The economic effects stemming from the opioid epidemic have been estimated at more than $1 trillion from 2001 through 2017. Analysts cite a loss of earnings and productivity from victims who overdosed on drugs and prescriptions medication.
Further action is being taken by Sessions and the Department of Justice (DOJ) as the attorney general announced a new opioid task force set to target drug makers and distributors that have fueled the epidemic. Dedicated to fighting the opioid epidemic, the task forces will target those overselling prescriptions and will following the lead of state and local government who are now filing lawsuits.
