Selectmen Split On Joining Opioid Class Action Lawsuit

NORWOOD, MA — Whatever way the board of selectmen decides to go when it comes to joining the national lawsuit against the makers and distributors of opioids, there’s a good chance it will be a 3-2 vote.

The board was scheduled to vote on the lawsuit agreement, but an apparent 2-2 tie forced the board to table their decision until they have perfect attendance. Selectman Paul Bishop was not present at Tuesday night's meeting.

If a vote was taken, it would have been selectmen Allan Howard and Helen Abdallah Donohue voting against joining the lawsuit with William Plasko and Chairman Thomas Maloney voting in support of joining the lawsuit.

Howard said he didn’t want to be apart of the class action lawsuit because of the possibility that the town could get nothing, despite their efforts.

“Just too many ifs in my opinion,” Howard said. “What disturbed me is how many different items they put down that were negative against the Town of Norwood. It’s supposed to be professionals doing this.”

The lawsuit, which many towns have joined, seeks damages that resulted from the opioid crisis. The attorneys are working on contingency, meaning that they only get paid if the lawsuit is successful or results in a settlement.

“Towns are doing this, states are doing this. I don’t want to be the only one left out of the possible good that may come to the community,” Plasko said.

“This is one of those things I’d hate to see Walpole get $2 million and Norwood gets nothing,” Maloney added.

Image Credit: Dan Libon