Wichita County authorizes judge to sign opioid MDL participation forms for multiple settlements

Following a closed-session briefing, Wichita County Commissioners Court returned to open session Sept. 2 and authorized the county judge to execute participation forms for proposed settlements in the national prescription opioid multidistrict litigation (MDL number 117-MD-02804). The authorization covers two groups: 1) Purdue and certain of its affiliates related to the Sackler family, and 2) a group listing other manufacturers and distributors referenced in the motion (transcript text lists "Alvogen, Amneal, Apotel, Hikma, Indivior, Mylan, Sun and Zydus" among parties). The court’s action followed a closed-session consultation with counsel under Texas Government Code section 552.071. A motion to authorize the county judge to execute the participation forms was made and seconded; the court voted 5-0 in open session to approve the authorization. No further contract language or monetary terms were read into the record during the open session; the court recorded the authorization to sign the forms as the formal action. The closed-session notice on the agenda identified the topics as settlement terms related to Purdue and a list of other companies; commissioners did not disclose settlement amounts or specific contract conditions in open session during the motion.