Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Westland to Join Michigan Cities and Counties Suing Drug Companies Over Opioid Epidemic

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Westland to Join Michigan Cities and Counties Suing Drug Companies Over Opioid Epidemic

Westland, MI - On Monday, April 16 the Westland City Council voted to join in the fight against the opioid epidemic by joining a lawsuit against against large pharmaceutical companies and distributors. The city will be represented by the Sam Bernstein Law Firm. Similar lawsuits have been filed on behalf of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties as well as the City of Detroit among other cities throughout the nation. It seeks unspecified damages and a change to the marketing and prescribing practices of opioids.

From 1999 to 2016, the total number of overdose deaths involving any type of opioid increased more than 17 times in Michigan as a result of increased prescription drug and heroin use. In addition to the skyrocketing number of overdoses, the opioid epidemic has led to increased healthcare costs, increased costs for drug treatment programs, an increase in criminal acts aimed at obtaining opioids and increased justice and law enforcement costs. Cities, Counties and States are moving forward with litigation, not unlike the cigarette litigation of a decade ago to recoup public resources.

"Westland is joining in this mass action litigation in order to take a stand against Big Pharma and for to recover damages that the epidemic has caused our local public safety departments and district court," commented Mayor Wild. "The danger, addiction and debilitating effects have been long-known by drug companies but were disregarded and these drugs were falsely marketed as safe in order to ensure financial gain."

There are over 92 actions currently filed by governmental entities in regards to this crisis.

For more information, please call Aubrey Berman at (734)467-3200

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.