Lincoln County agrees to participate in national opioid 'remnant defendants' settlement

Lincoln County consented to participate in a nationwide opioid-litigation 'remnant defendants' settlement at its March 2026 meeting, with county staff noting the final county allocation remains uncertain.

The county attorney described the settlement as a multi‑defendant nationwide agreement tied to manufacturers, distributors and other defendants involved in the opioid supply chain. The settlement amount referenced in the meeting’s presentation was described on the record (as stated during the meeting) and staff said Lincoln County’s eventual share will likely be less than $100,000 based on a preliminary review of the settlement documents.

The county attorney said this remnant settlement sits outside the memorandum of agreement with the North Carolina Department of Justice and will have different requirements for allowable uses than prior settlements so county staff will review the settlement documents and coordinate with the opioid-settlement committee on how funds may be used. The board voted to consent to participation in the settlement and directed staff to review allocation and allowable use requirements and return with recommendations to the opioid settlement committee and the board, which will consider awards in May.