Commissioners approve consent agenda and authorize signatory for multi‑defendant opioid settlement

During roll call and consent-agenda consideration, the commission recorded a motion and second to approve the consent agenda and proceeded with approval. As part of the discussion, a county representative described a multi‑defendant settlement that includes six so‑called remnant defendants: Associated Pharmacies; American (or JM) Smith Corporation; Louisiana Wholesale Drug Company; Morrison Dixon Company; North Carolina Mutual Wholesale Drug Company; and United Natural Foods Inc.

The presenter described the total settlement amount in the meeting as roughly $97.625 million and said Missoula County’s share was provided as an approximation during the briefing. The presenter also noted that attorney fees and costs would be deducted (reported on‑record as 12.4%), and the county remains obligated to use any proceeds for abatement efforts tied to the opioid crisis. County attorneys (Keller Roarbach) recommended that the county enter the settlement agreement.

Outcome and administrative steps: the commission approved the consent agenda and authorized Commissioner Strowmire to sign the settlement document; no formal roll‑call vote tally was recorded in the transcript and the meeting did not record a subsequent county vote specifically enumerating the settlement amount distributed to the county. Meeting participants asked whether this settlement would follow the same process as state‑handled settlements; the presenter clarified payments would go directly to local governments rather than through the state process.

The commission also noted prior activity related to the Sackler bankruptcy reorganization plan; officials said Missoula County participated in authorizing the reorganization plan and may be entitled to future proceeds pending finalization of that process.