Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced that his office filed an opioid claim against Mallinckrodt plc for damages resulting from the opioid epidemic.
“Now, as Mallinckrodt’s liability for its actions relating to the opioid epidemic is being determined through the bankruptcy process, Madison County will have a seat at the table, and we will be aggressively demanding recovery on behalf of the citizens of Madison County for the public health crisis of opioid addiction that has devastated so many in our area,” Haine stated in a press release.
According to the press release, attorney and former Madison County chief judge Ann Callis will be working on the case. Callis, a partner at Holland Law Firm, is waiving compensation from Madison County government and its citizens.
“We made sure that 100 percent of all settlement money allotted to Madison County will be available to support families who have lost a loved one and to pay for public safety, treatment, and education efforts,” Haine stated.
Callis said she views the litigation as a service to the people of Madison County, the press release states.
“Having seen the devastation of the opioid crisis in our community, I am honored to represent my home county in the Mallinckrodt Bankruptcy. I look forward to working with county officials on this important litigation,” Callis added.
The press release states that specific damages will be determined through a claims management process due to Mallinckrodt’s bankruptcy, which requires part of the process to go through the Federal Bankruptcy Court.
Other local governments in Madison County may also be able to file claims. Haine said the Civil Division of the State’s Attorney’s Office will assist local governments in the claims process.
Former State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons also previously filed an opioid claim against Purdue Pharma L.P. in July. The claim was filed as part of a “multi-state Purdue litigation.” There is currently a federal multidistrict opioid litigation pending before U.S. District Judge Dan Polster with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Ohio.
“For decades, certain pharmacy companies have poisoned our community, ruined families and so many precious lives in their pursuit of profits from highly addictive, deadly drugs,” Gibbons stated in a July press release. “Over the years, families have watched loved ones taken down the dark path of addiction - never to return. Taxpayers have had to pay the bills for the epidemic as our County and local governments have had to endure increased costs for public safety and the heartbreaking costs of responding to overdose deaths. All of this was caused by pharmaceutical companies and paid from your taxes, and it’s time these perpetrators pay the families and taxpayers back.”