Granite County authorizes county attorney to join Purdue Pharma litigation filings

Granite County commissioners authorized the county attorney to sign court documents to join a class-action filing related to Purdue Pharma's bankruptcy reorganization, the commission said Tuesday.

County staff described the background: local governments participated in litigation arising from Purdue Pharma's role in opioid marketing and settlements. The staff memo suggested limited financial exposure but recommended authorizing counsel to sign necessary documents to participate in litigation or claims processes tied to the case.

A motion was made and approved to authorize county attorney Blaine Bradshaw to sign the court documents on behalf of the county. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote; the transcript records commissioners saying “Aye.” The authorization allows the county attorney to execute filings as the county considers whether to participate in distributions or claims under the bankruptcy reorganization (described in the transcript as a “chapter 13” reorganization).

Commissioners asked staff to collect more detail about potential financial exposure and to return if further decisions were needed. The authorization was procedural — it empowered the county attorney to sign documents on the county's behalf — and did not commit the county to any particular monetary settlement at the meeting.

County officials did not provide a detailed dollar estimate of potential funds the county might receive or owe; staff said they would break down the paperwork and report back to the commission.