County OKs move to join opioid lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 — Nelson Fiscal Court voted Tuesday to be part of two class action lawsuits filed against drug manufacturers in response to the opioid epidemic.
County Attorney Matthew Hite said the county will be part of two different but similar legal actions, both handled by the Louisville law firm Grabhorn Law Office PLLC, headed by attorney Michael Grabhorn.
One of the actions is a lawsuit that began in Ohio; the second action means the county is now part of a growing number of Kentucky cities and counties who joining a settlement class.
The actions name dozens of drug companies and many plaintiffs seeking monetary damages.
There was no cost to the county to become part of the legal actions. If either or both of the lawsuits are successful, the law firm will retain 30 percent of the award as compensation for its work.
LARUE WATER AGREEMENT. The magistrates approved a resolution that will authorize the LaRue County Water District No. 1 to make extensions and upgrades to the water lines serving customers in parts of southern Nelson County.
According to the agreement, the district agrees to contact the county road engineer and that district’s magistrate prior to the start of any work.
In other business, Nelson Fiscal Court:
— approved a proclamation designating Nov. 16-224, 2019, as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in Nelson County.
Watts told the court he and Mayor Dick Heaton will sign the proclamation at the same time in the Old Courthouse on Thursday.
— approved re-appointing Joseph Rogers and Cleo Philon to the Nelson County Extension District Board.
— gave final approval of a zoning change that will allow for B1-PUD zoning for the Cox’s Creek area near the intersection of US31E and KY 509, which will allow for buildings up to 10,000 square feet to be built. The change will allow plans for the construction of a new Dollar General store at US31E and KY509 to proceed.
NEXT UP. Nelson Fiscal Court will next meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019.
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