County ratifies counsel's authority to add defendants in opioid litigation; vote 16‑1 with one abstention

Trempealeau County confirmed on May 19 that its retained law firms may add additional defendants in the county’s ongoing opioid litigation coordinated as MDL No. 2804.

The board considered a resolution clarifying and ratifying earlier engagement agreements with outside counsel and authorizing corporation counsel and other officials to execute documents to add parties, commence related federal or state proceedings and otherwise effectuate the litigation strategy. The resolution follows discovery and investigation that identified additional parties potentially responsible, the document states.

Corporation counsel Susan Chisholm (name stated in the meeting) told the board the measure “is essentially just adding those additional litigants, those additional defendants to this matter,” and asked for clarification to avoid dispute over the county’s prior authorization to amend pleadings.

Board action: Supervisor motion and a second produced a roll‑call vote of 16 in favor and one abstention. Supervisor Don Waldera explained he abstained “given my employment by a health system that has pharmaceutical companies,” citing a potential conflict. The resolution was introduced by the Executive Finance Committee and adopted to confirm counsel’s authority to amend pleadings and pursue further proceedings as needed.

No additional litigation decisions were made at the meeting beyond the resolution ratifying authority; specific defendant names were referenced in an exhibit attached to the resolution but were not read into the public record at length during the board meeting.