Bucks County commissioners approved Wednesday the hiring of a New York City-based law firm to file a civil claim against the manufacturers and distributors of opioid drugs.
Scott & Scott LLC will work on the case on a contingency fee basis, contracted to collect 22.5 percent of any financial recovery from the suit, plus costs. They represent several other governmental entities in opioid lawsuits against drugmakers, but their only other current Pennsylvania client is Mercer County.
“The horrific cost of human life is impossible to replace, and the ruin of families and communities is tough to rebuild,” said Commissioner Chairman Rob Loughery Wednesday morning. “Nothing is more important than a human life, but we have responsibilities as a county, and the cost we are bearing is astronomical. We are doing everything we can to fight the epidemic, to provide treatment and the services people need. But you have this whole issue of supply and manufacturing that is the leading cause of this. We believe this is an important route for us to take and another resource in our toolbox.”
Further Reading:
• Attacking the Root of the Opioid Crisis - Pharmaceutical Companies: http://bit.ly/2tEHoNT
• Wolf declares opioid crisis a state disaster emergency: http://bit.ly/2EpGxVP
• Pennsylvania Underestimates Death Due to Opioids by More Than Half!
• The Other Cost of the Opioid Epidemic: Increased Taxes: http://bit.ly/opiodsandtaxes
• PA Attorney General Subpoenas Opioid Producers: http://bit.ly/2Es2Ytf
• Bensalem First Local Government to Sue Opioid Manufacturers: http://bit.ly/2BLA8U6