Hancock County to receive $30,000 as part of cholesterol-drug settlement

GETTING FUNDS — The Hancock County Commission will receive a share of settlement funds obtained by the state from a lawsuit against cholesterol-drug manufacturers Pfizer and Ranbaxy. The county is set to receive $30,000 sometime this year. -- Craig Howell
NEW CUMBERLAND — The Hancock County Commission will be receiving additional funds as part of an antitrust lawsuit filed by the State of West Virginia against two pharmaceutical companies.
According to a letter from the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, dated Jan. 6, and signed by former attorney general and now-Governor Patrick Morrisey, Hancock County is set to receive $30,000 at some point in the first quarter of 2025.
“This payment is the result of a lawsuit filed by our office against Pfizer and Ranbaxy based on allegations of delay of availability of generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) between March 24, 2010, and November 30, 2011,” the letter states. “This payment is to allow partial recovery of excess payments or reimbursements your county paid for Lipitor during that time frame.”
According to several published reports, the settlement, announced in December, will include the distribution of $3.5 million amongst West Virginia’s 55 counties, as well as 229 cities.
The lawsuit claimed the two pharmaceutical companies delayed the introduction of a cheaper, generic version of Lipitor, a cholesterol-lowering drug, causing inflated costs.
“This is divided, probably, on a per capita basis,” Commission President Eron Chek said.
The lawsuit originally was filed in 2013.
The commission took no action, Thursday, declaring the letter from the Attorney General’s Office as a matter of record.
In other business Thursday, the commission voted to terminate the concession agreement at Kennedy Marina.
Check noted, under the terms of the agreement, it will be officially terminated 60 days following approval. According to a letter, to be sent by the commission to Kennedy Marina owner Michael J. Shenton, the termination is the result of “breach of contract for non-payment.”
The commission’s legal counsel, Assistant Prosecutor Mike Lucas, stated any funds received by the concession operations throughout the remaining term of the contract must still be turned over to the county.
Commissioners also approved an internal budget revision to include adjustments in the County Commission Office, the Extension Office, and the Hancock County Animal Shelter.
For the Commission Office, adjustments include a reduction of $4,000 for legal advertising, an increase of $1,000 for training/education, and a $3,000 increase for insurance and bonds. The Extension Service saw a reduction of $2,156 for PEIA costs and an increase of the same amount for professional services. The Animal Shelter has an increase of $106,530 for part-time salaries, a decrease of $2,734 for full-time salaries, a decrease of $33,000 for dog warden salary, a decrease of $25,000 for dog warden PEIA, a decrease of $30,000 for full-time shelter PEIA, a decrease of $15,000 for dog warden FICA tax, a decrease of $2,796 for full-time overtime expenses, an increase of $1,000 for dog warden materials/supplies, and an increase of $1,000 for medications.