Ways and Means Committee approves joining Purdue Pharma bankruptcy settlement sharing agreement

At a Ways and Means Committee meeting, County Attorney Lisonbee Carroll asked the committee to approve a resolution authorizing the county to join a Purdue Pharma bankruptcy settlement sharing agreement and to allow the chairman of the board to sign required documents. "I'm here today to request a resolution for the board to authorize the county to sign on to the New York Purdue Sackler opioid bankruptcy settlement plan sharing agreement and to authorize the chairman of the board to execute all necessary documents to receive any settlement payments," Carroll said. The resolution also authorized the county's outside counsel (named in the transcript as "Nepalese Shonik") to vote the county's claim in favor of Purdue Pharma LP's bankruptcy plan; Carroll said the terms and conditions of the participation agreement and the consent authorization are subject to the county attorney's review and approval. Committee members moved and seconded the resolution and voted in favor; the chair called the motion carried. Committee discussion included a question about how many opioid-related settlements the county is involved in; Carroll replied there is a single litigation with multiple defendants and multiple settlement processes underway. Carroll also noted the deadline to join the plan-sharing agreement is Sept. 30. The resolution as approved directs staff to proceed with the participation agreement subject to the county attorney's final review and approval and authorizes the chairman to execute documents as needed.