Mayor Joe Hogsett announced that the Consolidated City of Indianapolis hired Cohen & Malad, LLP to pursue legal action against opioid manufacturers and distributors. The mayor stated at an October 5, 2017 press conference that this legal action is an additional resource for the city in the fight against the opioid addiction epidemic sweeping across the United States and ravaging our communities.

The statistics are staggering. Nearly six times as many Hoosiers died from drug overdoses in 2014 as did in 2000 – Twice the national rate. This makes Indiana residents more likely to die from a drug overdose than an automobile accident. Last year alone 345 Marion County, Indiana, residents died due to opioid addiction.

The planned lawsuit is intended to tackle the opioid epidemic at its source—the manufacturers and distributors of these drugs. Compensation from the lawsuit may help the City of Indianapolis pay for law enforcement, health services, social services, and expenses related to the criminal justice process among others. Communities across the state of Indiana have a right to seek justice for taxpayers who are impacted by the opioid addiction epidemic. Community opioid litigation is just one tool in the toolbox to help in the fight.