WESTFIELD—A City Council subcommittee has voted to allow the city’s law department to handle matters related to any possible lawsuits from the city regarding opioids.
The Legislative and Ordinance Committee (L&O) voted on the matter during their meeting Thursday, recommending it unanimously to City Council. The matter was originally brought forward by previous At-Large Councilor Steve Dondley, who made a motion when still on the council to explore the possibility of seeking damages from pharmaceutical companies related to the opioid crisis.
Ward Two Councilor Ralph J. Figy
According Ward Two Councilor and L&O Chairperson Ralph Figy, Dondley wanted the council to essentially look at the possibility “into joining a class-action suit,” similar to what Greenfield has recently done.
According to Assistant City Solicitor Shanna Reed, of the Westfield Law Department, the state’s Attorney General has been looking into the matter.
“I know that the Attorney General has actually been working on an investigation into this matter,” Reed said.
“We’ve been monitoring what the Attorney General is doing,” she added.
She noted that there are several law firms that are looking for communities for a class-action lawsuit and that her department has been paying attention to that, as well.
Ward Six Councilor and L&O member Bill Onyski inquired from Reed if other communities were involved.
Reed noted that there were others, though Greenfield was the only one she could recall at the time.
When asked by At-Large Councilor and L&O member Nick Morganelli about any potential cost that the city would incur by joining a lawsuit, Reed said that generally the law firm would pay upfront, with money paid if they win.
“You don’t pay unless you win,” she said.
It was determined that no action would need to happen from City Council, and the committee recommended such to City Council unanimously.
The next L&O meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 5:30 p.m. The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 18, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with “Communications From the Mayor.”
