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Wausau finance committee postpones decision on joining national opioid class action
Summary
Committee members asked for more information about costs, fee treatment and consequences of opting in before deciding whether to participate in the six-defendant national opioid settlement; the committee voted to postpone the decision to its next regular meeting.
The Wausau Finance Committee voted March 24 to postpone a decision on whether the city should opt into a six-defendant national opioid class-action settlement, saying staff and counsel should provide clearer information about costs and legal implications before the city commits.
Assistant city attorney Vincent told the committee the item is an opt-in at this stage: "This is just to opt in to participate in the class action at this point," he said, noting that attorney fees are typically factored into settlements. Committee members sought detail on whether joining the class would limit the city’s ability to pursue individual remedies later and what, if any, costs the city would bear.
Alder Alden McElhinney said the item appeared on the finance agenda with little advance discussion and that he was uncomfortable moving forward without more information: "I'm not comfortable in going forward with this at this point," he said. Committee members noted a deadline of May 4 to elect participation.
A motion to postpone the item to the next regularly scheduled meeting passed on a voice vote. No substantive commitment to opt in was made at the March 24 meeting; the committee directed staff and legal counsel to return with additional details on fees, potential costs to the city, and the procedural consequences of opting into the class action.
Next steps: staff and the city attorney's office will provide more detail so the committee can reconsider the item prior to the stated opt-in deadline.
