The city of Portland will join a national movement by suing drug companies behind America's opioid crisis.
On Wednesday, the Portland City Council voted 4-0 to file litigation hoping to recoup millions of dollars spent locally each year dealing with the fallout of opioid addiction.
"This is a much-needed step to help stem the tide of opioid addiction in our community," Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said.
Portland will join at least 370 other cities and counties across America suing drug manufacturers or distributors, said Naomi Sheffield, a deputy city attorney. Locally, Multnomah County filed suit against several companies in August while the Clark County Council, in Washington, approved a lawsuit Tuesday.
Portland plans to argue that drug companies created a public nuisance and acted negligently. Sheffield said the city's damages from opioid addition are "a few million dollars annually."
In 2016, city firefighters responded to 3,475 overdose calls. Of those, first responders administered Naloxone, which reverses opioid overdoses, about 400 times, Sheffield said. And about half of all drug calls to police are related to opioids.
"Entities we trust with our health are preying on our pain and leaving a wake of ruin, grief and untold costs to families and communities," Commissioner Chloe Eudaly said.
City officials have privately identified a list of companies that could be targeted in a lawsuit. But the city did not release those names Wednesday and Sheffield declined to identify the companies when asked by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Portland will hire an outside law firm, Baron & Budd, to sue opioid companies. Baron & Budd already represents Portland in a separate suit against chemical-maker Monsanto, and the law firm represents many jurisdictions suing over opioid havoc.
Portland's lawsuit will be filed locally in federal court. But officials expect it will be transferred to the Northern District of Ohio, where multi-district litigation involving drug companies is being heard.
"We do have a voice, and collectively our voices have power," Commissioner Nick Fish said.
Wednesday's meeting also highlighted the personal toll of opioid use.
Former Portland Commissioner Steve Novick testified about the 2007 death of his brother, Mischa, from an OxyContin overdose. Novick said drug companies -- specifically Purdue Pharma and the wealthy Sackler family behind it -- need to be held accountable.
(c)2018 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.)
