Delaware is keeping a team of lawyers on hand to investigate and potentially sue opioid manufacturers and distributors for their role in the national health crisis.
Attorney General Matt Denn announced yesterday that the Delaware Department of Justice has retained a team of national lawyers to tackle the issue.
“The goal is very simple,” Denn said. “We will make sure that any entities responsible under Delaware law for creating this crisis help us solve it, and that they stop any practices still going on that are contributing to this crisis.”
Fields PLLC, the lead firm retained by Delaware, has already filed national litigation on behalf of the Cherokee Nation. The other firms include Gilbert LLP, Connolly Gallagher LLP, and Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway — all selected through publicly-posted Request for Proposals.
“Deaths from opioids have escalated dramatically over the past twenty years and become the public health crisis of the 21st Century,” said David Humes, board member of Delaware advocacy group atTAcK Addiction. “Should the investigation show evidence of wrongdoing, these firms must be held accountable and penalized for those deaths, the devastation they have caused families and provide treatment to those still in the throes of addiction.”
