City May Sue Opioid Manufacturers
Murphy wants city attorney to consider suit for damages from opioid epidemic.
![Pills by Tom Varco (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.](https://urbanmilwaukee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1024px-Lexapro_pills.jpg)
Pills by Tom Varco (Own work) (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
The Milwaukee Common Council will consider a resolution next week to have the city attorney investigate litigation possibilities and potentially file lawsuits against drug companies and manufactures who they believe are responsible for damages brought on by the epidemic. Money from the lawsuits would be used to recover the cost of battling the epidemic.
Alderman Michael Murphy, sponsor of the council resolution, said “addiction has been a costly plague for the city.”
“Any recovery of damages that we may get would be used toward the prevention, education and services to help people stay off or never get on these very addictive drugs,” Murphy said.
Wisconsin and several other municipalities and counties across the state have already filed similar lawsuits.
“Thousands of governmental entities throughout the United States are filing lawsuits against those companies and distributors engaged in marketing prescription opioids,” Murphy said.
Murphy is also the co-chair of Milwaukee’s City-County Heroin, Opioid and Cocaine Task Force. The task force recommended the resolution be brought to the common council.
“We’ve examined the cost to our city services, the impact on people’s health and impact of the bottom line of the tax base as a result of the terrible epidemic of opioid addiction in our community,” Murphy said.
Listen to the WPR report here.
Milwaukee Wants To Recover Opioid Epidemic Costs From Drug Companies was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
More about the Opioid Crisis
- Representatives Gwen Moore, David N. Cicilline, and John Katko Lead Call for Increased Funding in FY 2023 for Federal Lead Poisoning Prevention Efforts - U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - Apr 28th, 2022
- Baldwin Blasts FDA Consultant For Pharma Ties - Isiah Holmes - Apr 7th, 2022
- Report Details Opioid Addiction Solutions - Rob Mentzer - Apr 5th, 2022
- Senator Baldwin Pushes for an Investigation into McKinsey’s Potential Conflicts of Interest in Relation to Opioid Crisis - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Apr 5th, 2022
- HOPE Kits aim to provide lifesaving tools for the community - Ald. Michael Murphy - Mar 25th, 2022
- County Executive David Crowley Announces Launch of Overdose Dashboard - County Executive David Crowley - Mar 22nd, 2022
- Evers Signs Bill Legalizing Fentanyl Test Strips - Graham Kilmer - Mar 16th, 2022
- Gov. Evers Signs Three Bills in La Crosse to Help Address Substance Use and Overdose Deaths in Wisconsin - Gov. Tony Evers - Mar 16th, 2022
- Fentanyl Drives Record Overdoses in 2021 - Christine Hatfield - Mar 10th, 2022
- After Losing Son to Overdose, A Father Fights Back - Edgar Mendez - Feb 18th, 2022
Read more about Opioid Crisis here
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