Mooresville council tables decision on opioid-bankruptcy settlements until full council

Mooresville town staff updated the Town Council on new manufacturer settlements in ongoing opioid litigation and said a decision on whether to join a proposed bankruptcy settlement must wait until the council's second meeting in September. The council voted to table action until a full council is present.

Town staff said the settlements include recent agreements with certain manufacturers and continuing movement in the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy. “The action will have to be taken by your second meeting in September,” the staff member told the council, adding that details and a confidential packet had been provided to members.

The update mattered because the council will need to decide whether to opt in to or object to the proposed bankruptcy and settlement. Councilmembers said they preferred to wait until a full complement of members could consider the confidential materials. A motion to table the matter until a full council passed; the roll call was not recorded in the meeting transcript.

Council members were advised that the settlement documents in their packets are confidential and should not be disclosed until there is a final action in the bankruptcy process. The staff member who presented the update suggested there is time to decide; during the discussion a council speaker estimated the relevant deadline as being in late September and referenced “September 24” approximately.

No formal vote on the substance of the settlements was taken at the July 15 meeting. The council did not direct staff to take other action at this meeting beyond tabling the matter for consideration at a later full-council meeting.