Pittsburg County OKs joining national "Six Remnant Defendants" opioid settlement, authorizes chairman to sign

PITTSBURG COUNTY, Okla. — The Pittsburg County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on March 16 to participate in a new national opioid settlement and authorized the chairman to sign a Combined Subdivision Participation and Release Form included in a DocuSign packet the county received. The packet, provided by the settlement notice and claims administrator, gives eligible subdivisions an opt-in deadline of May 4, 2026.

The board’s motion — made by Chairman Ross Selman and seconded by Commissioner Mike Haynes — recorded a unanimous aye vote by Selman, Haynes and Commissioner Charlie Rogers. The approval authorizes the county’s participation in the proposed settlement reached with six regional distributors and dispensers collectively referred to as the "Six Remnant Defendants." The notice attached to the packet says the combined remnant defendants would pay $97,625,000 in cash if the settlements proceed and that only participating subdivisions will receive allocations; spreadsheets and the packet note funds must be used for opioid remediation and core strategy uses in the settlement agreement.

Why it matters: Participating does not immediately create a payment; it signs Pittsburg County up to the formula and timing that would be used to…