Thousand of lawsuits filed across the U.S. against drug distributors relating to opioid epidemic A trial in West Virginia is underway and last updated 2021-05-11 18:10:17-04 Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against drug distributors seeking accountability in the opioid epidemic. A trial currently underway in West Virginia could set the tone for other cases moving forward. âWe have been ground zero. Itâs no secret weâre number one in overdose deaths, and recent reports from the National Office of Drug Control Policy indicate that overdose deaths are up across the country. But in West Virginia, they're up by 45 percent just in this last year,â Dr. Susan Bissett, President of the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute, said.