The list of Massachusetts communities suing big drug companies over the opioid epidemic is growing.
The lawsuits name drug companies and opioid distributors, alleging they did not properly monitor prescription painkillers flooding communities.
Unlike legal action at the state level, these suits would seek damages that would go directly to the communities that sign on, and any legal fees would be paid based on a percentage of any settlement with the companies.
Boston attorney Peter Merrigan works at Sweeney Merrigan, one of a handful of law firms working on this. So far, he’s representing five Massachusetts communities, including Greenfield, which is where he’s from.