PRINCETON, W.Va. — The Mercer County Commission has voted to opt-out of the national lawsuit in connection with the opioid epidemic.
After an executive session Tuesday, the commission announced it would remove its name from the multi-state, multi-county federal lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors and instead have the case considered by a state Supreme Court appointed mass litigation panel.
Commissioners said they believe a resolution of the state case will be better for Mercer County residents.
The Mercer County Commission is represented by Truman and Tish Chafin in the opioid litigation.
“We think we are already in a position, sort of on the runway, when it comes back for them to take it up and dispose of these cases in West Virginia, which we think is much more beneficial to counties like Mercer than a national class action,” Truman Chafin told the Bluefield Telegraph.