Washington County Attorney’s Office—2018 Annual Report 10 Civil Division “The Civil Division attorneys work with every department in the county.” The civil division is the county’s civil lawyer and because of its commission, the civil division’s responsibilities are significant. It’s duties broadly range from crafting county contracts, to rendering legal opinions to representing the county’s interests in court. In fact, 2018 particularly litigious year with division lawyers defending the county in a number of different actions and suing bad actors on behalf of the county. Of particular note was the recently initiated lawsuit against the pharmaceutical companies responsible for the widespread misuse of the powerful opioid pain medications. Our county, among virtually all counties throughout the United States, is in the midst of a drug abuse crisis. This crisis has resulted in many overdose deaths, specifically in Washington County alone we find close to 30 people deceased as a result of their opioid addiction. Since our county has borne directly and indirectly, the costs that come with this epidemic, it was necessary to sue the pharmaceutical companies. We partnered with two nationally recognized local law firms in the litigation. Those firms are responsible for litigating our claims at no risk or cost to Washington County and the civil division is responsible to assist the litigation and gather data that supports our theories of public nuisance and negligence. The Civil Division is the legal advisor to the County Board. County Commissioners are Lisa Weik, District 5, Wayne Johnson, District 4, Stan Karwoski, District 2, Fran Miron, District 1, and Gary Kriesel, District 3. Civil Division Chief George Kuprian