Federal Judge considering Native American Tribal suit track in national opioid crisis litigation

FEDERAL JUDGE CONSIDERING NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL SUIT TRACK IN NATIONAL OPIOID CRISIS LITIGATION

The Nebraska Tribe filings by Lead Attorney David Domina, on behalf of a consortium of law firms, are now the subject of focus for a Tribal Governments Track in the complex National Opioids Prescription Mulitidistrict Litigation (MDL) being considered by the Federal Judge in Cleveland, Ohio.

Writing for the Ponca Tribe and all the Nebraska Tribal Nations, Mr. Domina and the Opioid Justice Team of attorneys have called on the U.S. District Court Judge Dan A. Polster to create a separate Tribal Government Track within the MDL in order to recognize tribal sovereignty and a host of legal, medical and cultural issues specific to Native American Nations. The Nebraska filings received national attention when filed.

According to Mr. Domina, the MDL litigation track issues range from Indian Child Welfare Act concerns, to unique tribal justice and law enforcement procedures. “At the center of this is the Indian Health Service, a federal agency that provides the vast majority of medical care for Native Americans,” Mr. Domina said.

The Opioid Justice Team lawyers argue that a separate Tribal Government track can more effectively investigate matters about how opioids were tested, marketed, and distributed in ways that the companies knew or should have known would have unique impacts on Native Americans and on Tribal Reservations. 

Mr. Domina has provided service to Native Americans for many years in cases involving health and environmental issues.

"The Tribal Government Track can provide the broadest and most intense look at the problem of prescription opioid medications because of the defined nature of Tribal Governments, their sources of health care and medications, and the oversight by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in many aspects of their activities," said Mr. Domina.  "These unique features commend a separate litigation track for Tribal Governments to find a solution to the opioids crisis in the context of Tribal Governments."
 
For more information, contact:
 
David A. Domina, Lawyer
Domina Law Group pc llo
2425 S 144th St Omaha NE 68144
www.dominalaw.com
402 493 4100
 
Media: Peter Mirijanian (202) 464-8803 or C. Brylski/D. Johnson (504) 897-6110