Published on medianewsgroup.com by Norb Franz April 24, 2019
Harrison Township and the cities of Sterling Heights and Warren filed lawsuits Wednesday against opioid manufacturers and distributors, blaming them for causing the nationwide drug epidemic.
The lawsuits, filed in Macomb County Circuit Court, seek injunctive relief and compensation resulting from the sale, distribution and prescriptions of massive quantities of opioids in the three communities that they claim has led to devastating consequences including drug addiction, crime and overdoses. Officials allege the companies have conducted “deliberate and unconscionable efforts to maximize profits at the expense of individual citizen’s lives, families and communities.”
“The premise of our lawsuit is holding these drug manufacturers and distributors accountable for what is perhaps the biggest public health crisis in the country right now,” Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor said during a press briefing at his city’s police department attended by lawyers and representatives for the three communities.
