Clinton County joins lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies

Clinton County is joining hundreds of other counties nationwide suing big-name pharmaceutical companies.

The idea came from the state's Association of Counties conference in October 2017. Clinton County's attorney said the case has merit.

The lawsuit stems from the national opioid crisis. Counties say the pharmaceutical companies were not honest in their marketing of addictive drugs. Now, the counties say they pour thousands of taxpayer dollars into the epidemic.

"It touches all or a great deal of our departments and we pay those people with taxpayer dollars. So if there is an opportunity to number one, recoup some of the money that we have outlaid to combat the opioid epidemic, but also potentially redirect a potential award to assist in the treatment of opioid addiction," Clinton County Administrator Michael Zurlo said.

The trial is expected to start next spring.