Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Opioid Settlements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kenosha County committee authorizes staff to sign future opioid settlement agreements
Summary
The Kenosha County Legislative Committee voted unanimously Aug. 19 to authorize staff to enter future opioid-defendant settlement agreements that meet specified criteria and to report the general terms back to the board.
Kenosha County Legislative Committee on Aug. 19 voted unanimously to delegate authority to county staff to enter into certain future settlement agreements with opioid defendants, provided the settlements meet criteria set by the county and plaintiffs' attorneys.
The resolution authorizes a designated county contact to sign settlement agreements so long as the agreements are recommended by the plaintiffs' attorneys' committee, the disbursement of funds follows previously used distribution levels and proper notice is given to appropriate parties. "We've got 3 settlements that are sort of pending. I think we've got a deadline at the end of September to indicate whether we're gonna participate or not," said Mr. Carmel, a county staff member who presented the resolution. "Anything that deviated from those, I would view as having to come back for specific authorization," he added.
The measure was introduced and explained by Mr. Carmel, who said the county's attorneys expect additional smaller settlements beyond the major Purdue agreement. He said the settlements being discussed now are expected to be smaller—"probably going to be a third or so" of earlier amounts—but that pooled participation by plaintiffs affects the total payments defendants will make. Carmel said larger participation among plaintiffs increases the total money in settlement funds because defendants are motivated to resolve cases broadly.
Committee members discussed the procedural limits of the authorization. Carmel clarified that the resolution does not itself appropriate money. "All of the budgetary process so far is being handled through the budget," he said, noting that any receipts and planned disbursements would be processed through the county budget process.
The motion to approve the resolution was moved by Supervisor Norton and seconded by Supervisor Stocker. The committee approved the resolution unanimously.
The committee also approved minutes from its May 20, 2025, meeting and heard brief introductory remarks from youth participants in the Youth & Governance program.
The committee did not specify an ordinance or statute that constrains the delegated authority beyond the criteria listed in the resolution; county staff said they will provide notice to the board when they enter any qualifying settlements.
