Rutland Board OKs participation in Purdue and Alvogen opioid settlements and secondary manufacturers

The Rutland Board of Aldermen voted to authorize the mayor to execute documents allowing the city to participate in opioid settlements with Purdue and Alvogen and to opt into separate settlements with eight secondary manufacturers.
The action came after the board suspended the rules to take the item up immediately and a brief discussion of the likely city recovery. Treasurer Markowski and an attorney briefed the board on details; board members said the city’s expected share from the secondary manufacturers would be small and not worth extended legal expense.
Why it matters: Accepting the settlements makes Rutland eligible to receive a distribution from national opioid settlement programs while avoiding the time and cost of separate litigation. The board opted to participate rather than defer funds to the state or pursue separate suits.
Board action: The mayor was authorized to sign all documents necessary to participate in settlements with Purdue and Alvogen. Separately, the board authorized the mayor to sign documents to participate in settlements with eight secondary manufacturers. City counsel and staff indicated the total recoveries from the secondary manufacturers would be roughly $17,000 for the city.
What board members said: A member of the board thanked attorney Matt Bloomer for his analysis, and another alderman said accepting the offers was the “right” choice given the estimated recovery and costs of litigation. The motions to authorize the mayor to sign both participation agreements passed with no recorded opposition.
What’s next: The city will execute settlement documents and, as required by the settlement processes, receive any distributions when the national settlement administrators calculate allocations and make payments.