County in Utah Filed Suit Against Drugmakers, Doctors in Opioid Crisis

Officials of a northern Utah county are suing drug manufacturers, distributors and doctors in an effort to mitigate the consequences of the nation’s opioid crisis.

Summit County has filed a lawsuit in state district court against 25 companies and individuals, seeking a jury trial and an unspecified financial award for damages.

The lawsuit claims the opioid epidemic was created by the companies through deceptive marketing and misleading sales. It also claims the industry lied about the dangers of long-term opioid use.

In a statement, county attorney Margaret Olson says the drug manufacturers and distributors have reaped billions of dollars and should be held financially responsible.

The suit also seeks an injunction to order the companies to “abate the public nuisance they created.”