Stephens County joins fight against opioid manufacturers

Stephens County has officially joined the opioid fight against manufacturers and distributers of the highly addictive drug.

During the recent Stephens County Board of Commissioners meeting, the board entered into executive session where they agreed to join the ongoing opioid litigation.

Following the closed meeting, the commissioners voted and adopted a resolution to move forward with a lawsuit aimed at holding multiple manufactures and distributors of opioids responsible for their role in creating the opioid epidemic.

With this resolution, the county is joining dozens of other Georgia municipal governments that are being represented by Athens-based law firm Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C. (BBGA) in the ongoing litigation.

County Attorney Brian Ranck of Sanders, Rank & Skilling, P.C., and Cornelia-based attorney Dennis Cathey of Cathey & Strain, LLC will assist BBGA throughout the suit.

According to BBGA’s Marketing Coordinator Allie Jackson, the lawsuits target more than 20 companies that manufacture and distribute opioids, and allege that those companies misrepresented the addictive risks of opioids, fraudulently marketed opioids as a treatment for chronic pain, and did not follow federal and state laws regarding the reporting of excessive opioid sales in certain areas.

Jackson added that the cases will be filed in federal court and are expected to be transferred to the national opioid multi-district litigation in Ohio, where more than 1,000 cases are pending.

BBGA partner Jim Matthews, told WNEG News via email that BBGA attorneys have made presentations to dozens of local governments across Georgia and anticipate presenting many more.

WNEG News will continue to provide continued coverage as more information is released.