Millbury to join lawsuit against Big Pharma
By
Susan Spencer
Telegram & Gazette Staff
Posted Feb 13, 2018 at 10:18 PM
Updated Feb 13, 2018 at 10:32 PM
MILLBURY – Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday to join the growing
list of cities and towns that are suing pharmaceutical companies for
damages from the opioid epidemic.
Town Manager David J. Marciello told selectmen the police chief has had weekend nights when officers administered five to 10 doses of Narcan, sometimes to the same person multiple times. He said the Police Department’s supply of the overdose-reversing drug comes out of its budget.
Other first responders have incurred similar costs.
“When we come up with the renewal for the ambulance (contract), that’s going to be reflected to us in the overall cost,” he said.
Mr. Marciello summarized the nationwide effort, spearheaded locally by a consortium of lawyers under the umbrella Massachusetts Opioid Litigation Attorneys, as similar to a class action suit.
However, according to information provided by MOLA, as a mass tort litigation, compared to a class action, the municipalities joining together to sue don’t have to have the same damages. Each town would have to define and put a cost to the damages it has incurred.
Selectmen noted the seriousness of the opioid crisis, which is reflected by a sign at the end of the Municipal Office Building driveway with the hashtag #2069, signifying the number of people who died in 2016 from opioid overdose.
Selectmen Mary Krumsiek and Scott Despres said they couldn’t see any downside to joining the suit and encouraged the town to move forward.
Auburn, Sturbridge, Dudley, Charlton and Sturbridge also have agreed to join the litigation.
Also at the meeting, Selectman Sandra Cristo, vice chairman, announced she does not plan to seek re-election when her term expires this spring. Ms. Cristo has served on the board for six years.
A longtime town volunteer who plans to remain active on the Asa Waters Task Force, Ms. Cristo said she ran for the Board of Selectmen because she wanted to stand up for taxpayers.
“The real purpose of being a selectman is to work for all town residents” to improve the quality of life, she said.
“Again, thank you, Millbury,” she concluded. “It was a pleasure to serve you.”
Ms. Cristo is the second selectman to step down this spring. Selectman Francis B. King, who chairs the board, previously announced he won’t run again after nearly 13 years in office.
Town Manager David J. Marciello told selectmen the police chief has had weekend nights when officers administered five to 10 doses of Narcan, sometimes to the same person multiple times. He said the Police Department’s supply of the overdose-reversing drug comes out of its budget.
Other first responders have incurred similar costs.
“When we come up with the renewal for the ambulance (contract), that’s going to be reflected to us in the overall cost,” he said.
Mr. Marciello summarized the nationwide effort, spearheaded locally by a consortium of lawyers under the umbrella Massachusetts Opioid Litigation Attorneys, as similar to a class action suit.
However, according to information provided by MOLA, as a mass tort litigation, compared to a class action, the municipalities joining together to sue don’t have to have the same damages. Each town would have to define and put a cost to the damages it has incurred.
Selectmen noted the seriousness of the opioid crisis, which is reflected by a sign at the end of the Municipal Office Building driveway with the hashtag #2069, signifying the number of people who died in 2016 from opioid overdose.
Selectmen Mary Krumsiek and Scott Despres said they couldn’t see any downside to joining the suit and encouraged the town to move forward.
Also at the meeting, Selectman Sandra Cristo, vice chairman, announced she does not plan to seek re-election when her term expires this spring. Ms. Cristo has served on the board for six years.
A longtime town volunteer who plans to remain active on the Asa Waters Task Force, Ms. Cristo said she ran for the Board of Selectmen because she wanted to stand up for taxpayers.
“The real purpose of being a selectman is to work for all town residents” to improve the quality of life, she said.
“Again, thank you, Millbury,” she concluded. “It was a pleasure to serve you.”
Ms. Cristo is the second selectman to step down this spring. Selectman Francis B. King, who chairs the board, previously announced he won’t run again after nearly 13 years in office.
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