During a recent government meeting, attorney Crystal Jessie addressed the board regarding ongoing litigation related to price-fixing of insulin and opioid medications. Jessie, who has represented Johnson County since 2017 in opioid-related lawsuits, revealed that her firm discovered evidence of price-fixing by major pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly, Express Scripts, and Caremark, affecting both insulin and opioid drugs.

Jessie explained that the county could opt into a new lawsuit concerning insulin price-fixing, which would not incur any upfront costs. The lawsuit aims to recover damages attributed to inflated health insurance costs for county employees, which have reportedly increased nearly 100% since 2002 due to these practices. The attorney emphasized that participation in the lawsuit would be beneficial for the county, as it has already seen financial returns from opioid settlements.

The board discussed the possibility of adding a vote on the lawsuit to the agenda for their next meeting, allowing time for all members, including two new board members, to review the provided documentation. Jessie assured the board that her firm would handle all costs associated with the litigation, operating on a contingent fee basis.

In addition to the legal discussions, the meeting also recognized outgoing board members for their service and included routine approvals for the upcoming school year, such as the management team and disciplinary hearing authority. The board plans to hold a work session to further discuss the lawsuit and ensure all members are informed before making a decision in September.