Statement by County Executive Ike Leggett on Possible County Lawsuit on Opioid Crisis

County Executive Ike Leggett discussed the decision by Montgomery County to investigate legal action against the manufacturers of opioid products to recover damages incurred by the County. Leggett was joined by Council President Hans Riemer, County Attorney Marc Hansen, and Dr. Raymond Crowel of Health and Human Services. Leggett asked for – and the Council approved – the hiring of outside counsel, the firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, to investigate the culpability of opioid producers and distributors and move to take legal action for reimbursement to the County for taxpayer resources that have been, are, and will be used to respond to the crisis.

“Every day brings fresh evidence of the very real damage that the Opioid crisis in wreaking on individuals and communities throughout our great nation. I wish I could stand here and tell you that Montgomery County is immune to this epidemic. Unfortunately, I cannot do that. Ask our first-responders in our Fire & Rescue Service and in our Police. Ask our front-line personnel in Health & Human Services. Death. Addiction. Broken families. Broken lives. We are living this reality today.

“As we continue to respond as a County to the critical needs created by this epidemic, I wanted to do more. I wanted to reach out and ask that those manufacturers and distributors of opioids who marketed the drugs and possibly downplayed their addictive nature be held responsible somehow for the consequences of those actions.

“That is why I asked for – and the Council approved, today – the hiring of outside counsel – the firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP -- to investigate the culpability of opioid producers and distributors and move to take legal action for reimbursement to the County for taxpayer resources that have been, are, and will be used to respond to the crisis.”

The lawsuit will be done on contingency. No County monies will go to the lawsuit and the firm will only be paid if they are successful in winning damages for the County.