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Hawaii County Council authorizes special counsel to pursue opioid claims that may include Target
Summary
The Council adopted Resolution 50‑25 to authorize hiring private special counsel for opioid litigation, citing a time‑sensitive settlement opportunity and prior large settlements; deputies said most funds would be designated for abatement; the motion passed 8‑0 with one excused.
The Hawaii County Council on Jan. 8 authorized the county to retain private special counsel to pursue opioid litigation that may include claims against Target and similarly situated defendants.
Deputy Corporation Counsel Cody Friends told the council the request is time sensitive and that the county has an outside New York attorney contact who has worked with the county in earlier opioid matters. "We have outside counsel from New York who has been assisting the county for several years now in our ongoing and continued opioid litigation," Friends said, adding the current opportunity could allow the County of Hawaii to potentially receive funds from a settlement with Target.
Friends said prior settlements had been "far more significant" than the potential Target amount and described how settlement monies have been allocated in the past. "85% is, for abatement purposes. The the remaining 50% has other administrative uses," Friends said, characterizing how funds from previous matters were distributed and noting some funds were already coming into the county from earlier settlements.
Council members voiced broad support for pursuing additional avenues for compensation to fund abatement and services. Council member Kanyeli Kleinfelder thanked staff for quickly advancing the matter and asked whether any ballpark figures were available; Friends said past settlements were "several million," but said revealing tentative amounts could require an executive session. Council member Villegas praised the continued effort to secure resources for addiction‑response work and said he would be in full support.
The resolution — introduced by Council member Kimball by request and requiring a two‑thirds vote under Section 6‑5.5 of the Hawaii County Charter — was moved and seconded on the floor and adopted by roll call, 8 ayes, 1 excused. The council record shows the motion carried and Resolution 50‑25 is adopted.
Next steps identified in the discussion: county attorneys will expand authority to work with the named New York contact (identified in the meeting as Shanna Sachs) and will continue coordination with outside counsel; no specific settlement amounts or timelines were released in open session. The council did not go into executive session during the Jan. 8 meeting to discuss settlement figures.
The council chair closed discussion and placed the resolution on final adoption; the council approved it at the Jan. 8 meeting.
