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Radford Council votes to join Purdue and manufacturers opioid settlements
Summary
Radford City Council approved resolutions to participate in the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan (including a Sackler-family settlement) and in proposed settlements with eight opioid manufacturers, enabling the city to receive its share of nationwide funds intended for opioid abatement.
Radford City Council on an August evening voted to accept the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan and to participate in proposed settlements with several opioid manufacturers, moves the city’s outside counsel recommended to recover funds for local opioid-abatement efforts.
The council approved a resolution accepting the Purdue Pharma plan and directing outside counsel to execute documents necessary for the city to take part in a proposed direct settlement with the Sackler family. The resolution recites that Purdue’s bankruptcy plan would result in an aggregate $6.5 billion nationwide payment and notes that Radford previously filed suit and submitted a proof of claim in the bankruptcy.
Council also approved a separate resolution authorizing participation in settlement proposals with eight manufacturers — Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma (Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA), Indivior, Mylan, Sun (Sun Pharmaceutical Industries), and Zydus — described in the resolution as collectively providing approximately $720 million nationwide. Council directed outside counsel to execute the required settlement documents and to accept the required releases of claims against those manufacturers.
City Attorney Mike Bedsoll and outside counsel advised council that participation is consistent with the Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund and the statewide memorandum of understanding for allocation and administration of opioid settlement funds. Council discussed the resolutions briefly before moving, seconding and approving each measure; the clerk recorded roll-call votes for the Purdue/Sackler and manufacturers motions.
The resolutions state the city’s intent to use recovered funds to address harms from the opioid epidemic, including impacts to emergency medical services, law enforcement, criminal justice, mental-health and substance-abuse services. Council did not specify a project-level spending plan during the meeting; staff and counsel were directed to execute settlement paperwork and follow the Virginia MOU for allocation.
What comes next: city staff will work with outside counsel to complete required filings and to receive Radford’s share of settlement proceeds under the terms of the respective plans and the Virginia allocation memorandum.
