Wisconsin Health News

Eleven communities in Milwaukee and Racine counties filed lawsuits this week against drug manufacturers and distributors for their alleged role in the opioid epidemic. 

The cities of Cudahy, Franklin, Greenfield, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, Wauwatosa and West Allis filed suit in Milwaukee County court. The villages of Mount Pleasant, Sturtevant, Union Grove and Yorkville filed suit in Racine County court. 

South Milwaukee Mayor Erik Brooks said his city and other municipalities have spent an “enormous amount of resources to combat” opioid addiction. 

“Opioids have taken an intensely personal toll on our community,” Brooks said in a statement. “Too many people have become addicted. Too many families have been broken. Too many have died. It is time for these defendants to answer these charges locally.”

Read the lawsuit.