McHenry Times

McHenry County is suing several pharmaceutical companies and physicians for allegedly deceptively marketing opioid prescription drugs and misrepresenting the addictive qualities of the drugs.

The suit, filed by McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and to prevent the companies and physicians named in the suit from continuing what the county sees as deceptive marketing practices, the county said in a release.

“One of my principal responsibilities as the McHenry County state’s attorney is to hold accountable those persons or entities whose conduct causes others to suffer,” Kenneally said in the release. “This lawsuit is an attempt to do just that.” 

McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally

According to the release, McHenry County has lost more than 70 residents to the opioid crisis this past year. The county has also seen its costs for social services increase substantially, thanks to increased criminal justice, victimization, child productive services and prevention program costs, as well as significant losses in productivity, the release said.

DuPage, Kane and Will counties are also filing similar suits, the release said. 

The McHenry County suit will be handled by Simmons Hanly Conroy and Meyers & Flowers on a contingency fee basis, meaning that costs related to the lawsuit will not come from the county’s taxpayers, the release said.