Mecklenburg Co. leaders take major step to fight opioid epidemic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County manager Dena Diorio announced that leaders will be working with attorneys to help build a case against drug companies blamed for the opioid crisis that has gripped the country.

Diorio announced leaders have engaged with three different national law firms: Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, Crueger Dickson LLC and von Briesen & Roper.

[New law aims to combat opioid addiction in N Carolina]

[NC attorney general sues multi-billion-dollar drug company over opioid crisis]

The lawsuit hasn’t been filed yet, but Crueger Dickson currently represents 150 counties nationwide in similar litigation.

Another attorney on the team also led litigation that won a $634 million criminal misbranding judgement against the company, Perdu Pharma.

County Commissioner Matthew Ridenhour said he believes big drug companies are to blame for the opioid epidemic that is killing four people a day in North Carolina and hurting Charlotte.

“By recovering some monetary damages, we can reinvest those dollars in rehab education, prevention and try to help the community already damaged by this epidemic,” Ridenhour said.

County leaders have made it clear that they will not pay any legal fees unless they win money in the lawsuit.

Ridenhour said he’s confident the county can win.

There is no timeline on when the county will file.

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