Albany commissioners hear pitches for opioid lawsuit

ALBANY — Representatives of five law firms made pitches before the Albany City Commission Tuesday to represent the city in a multi-district opioid lawsuit.

Commissioners are to decide at their next meeting which firm will represent the city in the lawsuit that has accumulated hundreds of municipalities and counties as complainants in action that is expected to be heard in Ohio. The participants in the suit are asking for damages from drug manufacturers in what is expected to be a class action suit over the loss of life and destruction of property caused by opioid — both prescribed and black market — addiction and abuse.

“More people will die in Georgia this year of opioid overdoses than from car wrecks,” Mike Smith of the Athens-based Blasingame, Burch, Garrard and Ashley firm told the board. That firm has been selected by 43 municipality and county governments, including Dougherty County, to represent them in the suit.

“The way the judge is handling this case, we believe there will be a settlement at some point,” Andy Davis, who is the city attorney in Rome, told the board.

Another of the representatives, Christine Crowe, told commissioners, “This is a multibillion-dollar problem and it needs a multibillion-dollar firm.”

Albany Department of Community and Economic Development Community Development Manager Shirley Ingram recommended, and the board later approved, that six nonprofits be awarded the $100,000 in public service community development block grant funds available to the city.

The agencies receiving the funds were Open Arms ($22,500), Strive2Thrive ($22,500), Alzheimer’s Outreach Center ($15,000), Dougherty County Family Literacy ($15,000), Communities in Schools ($15,000) and Georgia STARS Academy Inc. ($10,000).

“We announced the funding availability in February, received nine applications, eight of which were complete,” Ingram said. “We heard presentations from all eight applicants on April 4, and recommend funding for these six.”

CEDC Director Shelena Hawkins also asked the board to accept an HUD Community Home Investment Program award of $612,000. She said the funds are earmarked for rehabilitation of existing homes in the community. The commission approved the request.

The board also:

— Approved funding for survey equipment ($117,869), temporary summer labor services (for lifeguards, deck hands and recreation assistants, $95,406.40), and wireless infrastructure upgrades ($89,842);

— OK’d an alcohol license application for Blue Dog Station at 1502 E. Broad Ave. and a license transfer for 24/7 Mart at 521 S. Slappey Blvd.;

— Authorized the use of $744,150 in SPLOST VI funds for HVAC renovations at the downtown Law Enforcement Center.