Titanic Opioid Suit Pits States Against Cities on Who Gets Money

Dozens of state attorneys general are aiming to block a novel legal move by local governments that could give counties and cities more leverage in a massive lawsuit seeking billions from industries that allegedly fueled the opioid crisis.

On Aug. 6, the states’ top cops will ask a federal judge to deny a motion from roughly 2,000 counties and cities to form a “negotiating class.” The class would seek to settle the claims of all local governments across the country against drugmakers, distributors, and pharmacies accused of falsely marketing opioids as safe and non-addictive.

The dispute pits state interests in ...