Kalamazoo County has agreed to join a class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers. The lawsuit seeks recovery of money local governments have spent dealing with an epidemic of opioid overdoses.
In a meeting Tuesday, board members voted 6-to-5 in favor of entering contract negotiations with the legal firm Sommer Schwartz. Commission Chairwoman Stephanie Moore says it’s a quality of life issue
“Anytime we can do anything that can one, educate people on the importance of opioid addiction and the impact that it has on the community, but also be able to garner some resources that can help us to combat this issue, that can create a space of health and healing so that we can have strength in our community and we can actually help people recover from drug addiction...I think it’s a win all the way around.”
Moore says contract negotiations with the law firm will take very long. Confirmation of the contract is expected at the next County Commission meeting on September 4th.
