ROCKLAND – As municipalities across the country join lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and wholesale distributors, City Councilor Amelia Magjik introduced an option for Rockland to explore if it should follow a similar path.

Current lawsuits target opioid distributors for false or negligent advertising by minimizing risks to consumers, she said during the Monday, April 3, agenda-setting meeting.

It is an opportunity for Rockland to regain financial losses incurred by police, fire, and EMS during overdose calls, as well as the residual affects to the community, she told some of her hesitant colleagues. 

With council approval, the City would retain a law firm, at no cost, “to investigate whether Rockland has damages that should be pursued in terms of joining a class-action suit on the federal level.”

There have been a series of lawsuits filed against manufacturers and distributors around the country by municipalities.

“(There’s) the cost that now goes into South School, for example, because of kids being raised in homes that are struggling with addiction,” she said. “And kids who are being born addicted... It’s about recouping losses to the community and to repay some of those costs that we bear.”

Councilors Adam Ackor and Ed Glaser, however, were not sold on the proposal.

Though Rockland would not pay for a law firm’s investigation, city time would be required, Glaser said. He then listed the city attorney, city manager, and future city councils as entities whose time would be used.

Said Ackor: “I’ve read that these are very, very difficult, and could stretch for decades in the courts....We certainly have pressing matters here at home to deal with than chasing this down a rabbit hole.”

Councilors will revisit this topic at the regular council meeting, Monday, April 9. The two-part question being: A.) Does Council even want to pursue this idea, and then B.) what law firm should do the research.

“I’m not encouraging the City to spend money in casing something that could be futile, Magjik said.

“But if it could gain us without loss, then I personally would be a proponent of that course of action,” she said.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com