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Claiborne County commission authorizes opioid litigation, creates oversight board and hires outside counsel
Summary
The Claiborne County Commission voted March 18 to declare the local opioid crisis a public nuisance, override a mayoral veto to authorize litigation on contingency, create an Opioid Litigation Board to oversee any funds, and hire outside counsel on contingency. Votes on the litigation and hiring were recorded by roll call.
The Claiborne County Commission on March 18 approved a resolution declaring the county’s opioid crisis a public nuisance and authorized litigation against manufacturers and distributors of controlled substances, then established an oversight board for potential settlement funds and voted to hire outside counsel on a contingency basis.
The action began when Commissioner David Mundy moved to override the County Mayor’s veto of Resolution 2019‑015, which would authorize litigation “with no cost to the taxpayers.” The override passed on a roll‑call vote, 14–7. The resolution’s text states that Claiborne County was identified in CDC data (2006–2015) as the seventh‑worst U.S. county for prescribing, at 2,808 morphine‑equivalent milligrams per person annually, and says that the county’s opioid crisis constitutes a public nuisance that must be abated.
Following that vote, commissioners debated and then approved Resolution 2019‑020 to create an Opioid Litigation Board to oversee, invest and recommend distribution of any funds received from litigation. The commission debated board membership, removed one proposed appointee (Ben Harris, Pharm.D.) because he was not a Claiborne County resident, and added local health and community representatives including Ritchie Hoskins (coordinated health director for Claiborne County schools), a representative of the Stand in the Gap coalition, and Jodee Harrell of the Claiborne County Health Department. The final motion to establish the nine‑member board carried by an aye vote.
Commissioners then approved Resolution 2019‑021 authorizing the county mayor to contract with Jessee Law Office and McHugh Fuller Law Group PLLC to represent Claiborne County in opioid litigation. That resolution passed on a roll‑call vote, 15–6.
What it means: The commission’s votes set a framework for pursuing civil claims tied to the opioid crisis while creating a locally controlled body to oversee any recovery and programmatic responses. Commissioners emphasized that counsel would be paid on contingency, and the resolution specifies that any funds recovered will be placed in a special revenue account to be administered by a committee designated by the board.
Who said what: County Mayor Joe Brooks is recorded as having vetoed the initial resolution; the record indicates he discussed his reasons at the meeting. Commissioner David Mundy sponsored the override motion and is shown as sponsor on Resolution 2019‑015. Commissioners who voted for and against the override are listed in the meeting roll‑call in the minutes; the hiring vote lists the 15 in favor and 6 opposed by name. The commission removed Ben Harris from the proposed board because he is not a resident and added local health officials and community representatives.
Next steps: The county mayor is authorized to execute contracts with the named law firms and to proceed with forming the Opioid Litigation Board. The board will be responsible for developing strategy, overseeing investments and recommending distribution of any settlement funds to the county commission for approval.
