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Board authorizes Humboldt County to join national opioid settlements; OKs defense in two lawsuits
Summary
In closed session the board authorized county counsel to execute documents to participate in multi-defendant national opioid settlement agreements totaling approximately $44.6 million over 15 years and voted to authorize defense of two pending lawsuits; no reportable action was taken on potential new litigation.
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday authorized County Counsel to enter the county into the national opioid settlement agreements and to take legal steps to defend the county in two pending lawsuits, actions the board announced after a closed-session meeting.
"The board voted unanimously to authorize the acting County council to execute any and all documents necessary for the county of Humboldt to participate in the national opioid settlement agreements...under which the county will release the named companies from any and all claims," County Counsel told the board during the public report-out. The county’s share of the multi-party settlements was listed in the report as approximately $44,600,000 to be paid over 15 years.
The board also unanimously authorized the Humboldt County Counsel’s Office to defend the county in the cases Marilyn Lilly v. City of Eureka et al. (Humboldt County Superior Court case number CV2501584) and Fahid Atik Ahmed v. City of Arcata et al. (CV2501603). The board reported no reportable action related to the initiation of one potential new lawsuit referenced in closed session.
The closed-session announcements cited California Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) for existing litigation and section 54956.9(d)(4) for potential litigation. County Counsel opened the public report by summarizing the votes and the financial terms of the opioid settlements and the board’s defense-authorizations.
Board members did not discuss details of litigation strategy in public. The settlement participation will require execution of documents and releases described by County Counsel; the office will proceed with required administrative steps and notifications.
