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Lacey council authorizes city manager to join small national "remnant defendants" opioid settlement
Summary
City staff briefed the council on a new national opioid settlement with six so-called remnant defendants and asked the council to authorize the city manager to execute participation documents by the May 4 deadline; the council voted unanimously to authorize participation.
Mayor Andy Ryder opened the item and city staff explained the settlement terms and deadline.
Dave, a city staff member, told the council the settlement involves six remaining distributor/pharmacy defendants and that Lacey, as an eligible non-litigating subdivision, can choose to participate. "Participation does require the city to enter into participation agreements by May 4," Dave said, and staff recommended authorizing the city manager to sign any necessary documents so Lacey can receive its share of funds.
Councilmembers asked whether participation would prevent future action against those defendants. Dave said participating subdivisions would release claims through the settlement date but could pursue future wrongful acts. "The cities will collectively be releasing these defendants from any future claims up to this point," he said.
The council moved and seconded authorization for the city manager to execute required settlement documents and, after brief discussion, voted unanimously in favor. Mayor Ryder announced the motion carried with no opposition.
The staff presentation said the settlement payment is small compared with prior opioid settlement rounds and estimated Lacey's amount at roughly $5,000; staff noted those dollars, if received, must be used for opioid remediation and described options for pooling or separately administering the funds.
Next steps: staff will execute participation agreements if the city manager is authorized and will return with administrative details on how the funds would be used and tracked.
