The Columbus Dispatch | Editorial Board
Amid the tide of coronavirus news that started its swell March 12 (as Ohio businesses got the word that most should try to work from home), a bit of good news for Ohio might have gone relatively unnoticed.
We congratulate Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost for his success in brokering agreement among many cities and counties to join their cases in seeking compensation from the drug industry for the horrific damage the opioid epidemic has wrought on Ohio.
The local jurisdictions joining the “OneOhio” agreement account for 85% of Ohio residents. Cincinnati and Toledo are notable exceptions.
Substituting the mass action for numerous separate lawsuits accomplishes two things: First, it makes settlement more attractive to the pharmaceutical industry, because a deal with OneOhio will resolve many potential suits at once. And that motivation to settle could mean a quicker and larger payout to help communities grapple with damage done to families and to the justice system by addiction.