CHARLESTON– A West Virginia town seeking to recoup the costs of dealing with opioid abuse is suing out-of-state drug distributors, and another community plans to file a similar suit.
Media outlets report the Mingo County community of Kermit filed a lawsuit Tuesday naming five prescription drug wholesalers.
Also named is Cameron Justice, the ex-owner of a now-closed pain clinic. Justice was sentenced in 2010 to 30 months in prison for health-care fraud and allowing unauthorized staff members to issue illegal prescriptions.
Charleston attorney Rusty Webb said Tuesday he plans to file a similar lawsuit by next week on behalf of the Nicholas County town of Richwood.
The city of Huntington filed a similar lawsuit earlier in January, and the McDowell County Commission sued drug distributors in December.
