Joining other state and local governments across the country, Berlin last week filed suit against the drug companies and distributors it argues are responsible for the opioid epidemic. The 284-page lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Concord, charges the drug manufacturers put their desire for profits above the well-being of Berlin residents. As a direct result of the manufacturers’ actions, the lawsuit said Berlin spends a substantial amount of funds annually to pay for health care and services, law enforcement, substance abuse treatment and education, and public assistance. The police commission and chief recommended working with the New York legal firm of Napoli Shkolnik and a local New Hampshire firm. The legal firms work on a contingency basis, taking a percentage of any settlement. Download