HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The City of Huntington is suing three drug distributors and a doctor.
The allegation is they’ve caused and contributed to the opioid epidemic through “illegal, reckless, and malicious actions in flooding the state with highly-addictive prescription medications.”
Named in the lawsuit filed Thursday in Cabell County Circuit Court were Amerisource Bergen Drug Company, Cardinal Health, McKesson Corporation and Dr. Gregory Donald Chaney.
“There were unbelievable profits that were made and we’re left with the baggage behind of having to clean up this mess,” Huntington Mayor Steve Williams said during an appearance on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
Huntington is seeking damages to cover public safety expenses tied to drug epidemic.
“My opinion is is that the pharmaceutical companies need to bear the brunt of the responsibility and costs to help us come out from under this,” Williams said.
Rusty Webb, a Charleston attorney, is representing Huntington on a contingency basis which means there will be no costs to the city unless the case is settled or another judgment is reached.
Several West Virginia counties have filed or are considering filing similar litigation, though Huntington appeared to be the first city in the Mountain State to do so.
“It (the drug problem) seems to be at a higher, more aggressive level here, but we’re being more aggressive in the way that we’re fighting it and this is just one additional strategy in our arsenal,” Williams said.