County to join opioid lawsuit

The Texas County Commission on Oct. 17 agreed to join a lawsuit with other counties that seeks to hold distributors of opioid drugs accountable.

Commissioners entered into an agreement with John F. Garvey of Carey, Danis and Lowe, who is a former St. Louis circuit judge who works for the firm as it goes after manufacturers and distributors for their alleged contribution to a rise in drug addiction and overdoses. By signing up for the suit, Texas County joins a growing number of states and local governments seeking damages from pharmaceutical companies for the ballooning abuse of painkillers, heroin and other derivatives of the poppy plant.

Kimberly Lowe will act as local counsel.

In other matters, members:

•Met with Sheriff Rowdy Douglas, who reported on several topics, including meeting with TCMH CEO Wes Murray on healthcare costs and discussing options for the jail’s food operation.

•Learned that Mark Etchason was promoted to full-time corrections transport officer and he’ll receive a wage increase and that Nathaniel Bradley was terminated Sept. 12 as a corrections officer. Training on new Tasers was conducted Oct. 19.

•Met with its attorney Ivan Schraeder of the St. Louis firm of The Wagner Law Group.

•Visited with Jeremy Manning of Smith and Co. Engineers, Poplar Bluff,  regarding a bridge replacement.  

•Heard from Mary Ellen Higashi of Lynch Township regarding FEMA and SEMA funding.