Cleveland, Tennessee – Bradley County commissioners are taking their time to thoroughly research and consider their options before making a decision about insulin litigation. The commissioners recently held a meeting with County Attorney Crystal Freiberg to discuss the fairness of the proposed litigation and its potential impact on the county.
Attorney James Logan of Logan-Thompson, PC, would represent the county in the litigation, which aims to recover losses incurred by county residents due to alleged price fixing, kickbacks, and antitrust violations by pharmacy benefit managers and other entities. The county would join a multi-county class action lawsuit if approved.
Commissioner Louie Alford proposed a substitute motion to allow for further discussion and analysis of the contract before making a final decision. The commission voted 12-1 in favor of waiting to enter the lawsuit, with Commissioner Cindy Slater as the sole dissenting vote.
The concerns and questions surrounding the litigation were also addressed during a meeting of the Bradley County Legal & Legislative Committee. Commissioner Josh Rogers expressed concern about the potential risks for the county in taking on billion-dollar corporations. Freiberg was present at the committee meeting to provide clarification on the resolution.
During the committee meeting, Logan explained that the litigation would cover not just insulin but also other diabetic medicines. The reason it was initially referred to as opioid litigation was not clarified. While discussing the terms outlined in the resolution, Rogers sought clarification on matters such as the county’s insurance coverage and the involvement of the state attorney general.
Freiberg explained that the attorney general would act on behalf of the people of Tennessee, similar to past opioid litigation, and the county would not be able to switch attorneys if they signed an agreement with Logan. The attorney recovery fee, set at 33%, aims to compensate Logan and other lawyers involved.
Rogers asked Freiberg for her recommendation on the contract, particularly regarding the state attorney general’s potential involvement. Committee Chairman Bill Winters felt that these questions should not be answered in a public setting. However, Commissioner Milan Blake insisted that it was a legitimate question.
Freiberg acknowledged that certain provisions of the contract would need to be reviewed, and the county has the right to negotiate changes and amendments. This prompted the attorney-client privilege meeting held on February 5th.
The Bradley County commissioners continue to gather information and assess the potential ramifications of entering the insulin litigation. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.