COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners will take formal action next Tuesday to get into an ongoing lawsuit with a Detroit law firm in an attempt to get back expenses from the national opioid crisis.
A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of several Michigan cities and counties against 21 drug companies, distributors and pharmacies.
Commissioners decided during their Thursday work session to take formal action next week after favoring Sommers and Schwartz. They were one of two law firms to make presentations to Commissioners back in March.
County Administrator Bud Norman said a big difference is that Lisa Esser from Sommers and Schwartz said in March the county would pay no fees.
Commissioners Ted Gordon, Terri Norris and Leonard Kolcz also said they favored Esser’s presentation. Norris said Esser was more oriented to Branch County.
Esser pointed out during her presentation there were 268 opioid overdoses in Branch County between 2013 and 2016. She added the administration of Narcan is a cost that could be recouped as part of the litigation.
