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Council approves Weitz & Luxenberg to pursue insulin-pricing litigation
Summary
The Committee approved a limited appointment of outside counsel (Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C.) to represent the city in potential insulin-pricing litigation; City Attorney Greg Maker said the firm previously represented the city in opioid litigation and the city expects to file quickly to meet an early January filing window.
The Lansing City Council Committee of the Whole voted on Dec. 16 to authorize a limited appointment of Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., to represent the city in proposed insulin-pricing litigation.
City Attorney Greg Maker told the committee the firm has represented Lansing in prior mass-tort work — including the opioid litigation — and that preliminary actuarial and HR work indicates the city has a viable claim. "Weitz Luxembourg currently represents us in the opioid litigation," Maker said, noting the city has received multiple rounds of money from that litigation.
Maker said the city would file quickly to meet an early January deadline for joining a coordinated case and described the appointment as a limited, approved outside-counsel role. When asked whether the appointment would add costs to the city, Maker replied there would be no direct added cost and that any settlement proceeds would be received by the council and allocated according to settlement limitations (for example, opioid-recovery funds were used to mitigate opioid-related harms and support related programs).
Council action: A motion to appoint outside counsel was moved and the committee approved it by voice vote.
Next steps: Staff will proceed with the limited appointment and pursue filing work to meet the identified deadline; any settlement or award would be subject to council appropriation and the limitations specified in settlement documents.
