WINFIELD - The Putnam County Commission is the latest governmental body to consider taking legal action against drug wholesalers who poured millions of painkillers in the state.
Commissioners voted Tuesday to put out a request for proposals from multiple law firms.
Defendants for the potential suit have yet to be identified. Commission President Steve Andes said if investigators find local pharmacies or physicians who overprescribed to residents they may be listed as defendants as well.
Five law firms had contacted the county about a potential lawsuit prior to the meeting, Jennifer Scragg, county attorney, said. County commissioners said they would prefer to hire a Putnam-based attorney, but will review all applications for the position.
They would also consider joining other counties in a lawsuit.
If Putnam does win a lawsuit, the county would use the settlement for rehabilitation and prevention programs.
"We want to take care of the citizens of Putnam County, and if we're due some money we'd like to get that reinvested in the county," Andes said.
There were 30 reported drug overdose deaths in Putnam County between 2012-2014, according to data from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Multiple West Virginia cities and counties have sued drug wholesalers, or retained counsel to do so, within the past two months. Kanawha County retained counsel last month.
This comes after Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen, two drug wholesalers that have shipped massive quantities of pain pills to Southern West Virginia, paid $36 million to settle a lawsuit with the state last month.
A Gazette-Mail investigation, "Painkiller Profiteers," found wholesalers poured more than 780 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills into West Virginia over a six year period.
In that time, 1,728 West Virginians fatally overdosed on those painkillers.
Commissioners also approved an amendment to a county zoning ordinance that would allow companies that sell, rent, lease and service large trucks to enter the county. There were no regulations previously, according to county planner Tim Keaton. Martin's Peterbilt of WV submitted an application requesting the amendments.
Commissioners also approved a waterline extension project on Sovine Road in Hurricane. The extension will supply seven households with clean water. The project, which will cost the county about $17,000, can be started immediately.
Reach Ali Schmitz at ali.schmitz@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @SchmitzMedia on Twitter.