Maywood authorizes opioid litigation counsel and accepts $250,000 IHDA abandoned-property grant

On June 5 the Village of Maywood Board of Trustees voted to retain Edelson PC to pursue a proposed class-action claim against opioid manufacturers and distributors and separately approved participation in an Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) program that will provide $250,000 to address abandoned residential properties.

Trustee H. Yarbrough moved to approve the Edelson PC retention agreement, Trustee A. Sanchez seconded, and the motion carried with Mayor Edwenna Perkins and all present trustees voting yes. The retention agreement is intended to secure representation for potential litigation against manufacturers, distributors and related parties involved in the opioid crisis; the board did not discuss fee percentages or detailed contract terms during the public meeting beyond the retention authorization presented by the village’s legal counsel.

Separately, the board approved a program funding agreement to participate in IHDA’s Abandoned Residential Property Municipal Relief Program, accepting a grant award of $250,000 to support rehabilitation or demolition of vacant or abandoned housing stock. The memorandum from Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, Ltd. accompanying the agenda packet provided the program overview; the board voted to execute the funding agreement as presented.

Why it matters: the litigation-retention action aligns Maywood with other municipalities seeking accountability and potential recovery of costs associated with opioid harms; the IHDA grant is a designated revenue source for addressing blighted residential properties. The board did not vote on any related implementation plan for grant spending at the meeting.