Former Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery claimed victory in his final days for a $450 million national settlement with Ireland-based drugmaker Endo International, yet five years ago he had tried to derail legal efforts in Northeast Tennessee that led to a $35 million settlement that’s netting more money for nine counties than the Endo deal brought for the entire state.
The settlement negotiated by district attorneys general and their outside counsel went directly to local governments for opioid abuse prevention and treatment.
From the outset, the district attorneys used an aggressive approach, and outside counsel prepared to go to trial — taking 50 to 60 depositions, causing Endo to refuse to cooperate, according to Sullivan County District Attorney Barry Staubus.
“And I don’t think the attorney general, I don’t think their (office’s) mindset was the same,” Staubus says.