BATON ROUGE, La. (Legal Newsline) — Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Feb. 20 they will coordinate efforts in pursuing opioid manufacturers for their alleged role in the opioid crisis.
“The opioid crisis is sweeping the nation; and this is due, in large part, to the drug companies that mislead physicians and the public,” Edwards said in a statement. “A coordinated effort from the state will produce the best results for the families who have lost loved ones to this epidemic. Justice for them is our number one priority.”
Landry’s office will take over responsibility for pursuing the opioid manufacturers after a lawsuit was initially filed by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) in the 19th Judicial District Court.
“The opioid epidemic is one of the most challenging and complex problems facing our state,” Landry said in a statement. “Tackling this problem will take a concerted effort on many fronts and joining together to coordinate this legal effort is in the best interest of the people of Louisiana. I thank the governor for putting his faith in our office’s leadership on this issue.”