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City attorney asks commission to authorize signing of remnant opioid settlement; funds to flow to Polk County plan
Summary
City Attorney John Murphy sought authority to execute a national remnant-defendant opioid settlement by DocuSign; the settlement would route any municipal share through Polk County's opioid abatement plan per an interlocal agreement; the county-level allocation to Winter Haven was not specified at the meeting.
City Attorney John Murphy told the commission the Florida Attorney General's office is administering a unified settlement involving a set of "remnant" defendants in the national opioid litigation and that municipalities participating in the state process must sign to accept the terms.
Murphy said the combined remnant defendants were reported in the fact sheet at approximately $97,625,000 in cash to the state for distribution, but he did not yet have a breakdown of the allocation to Polk County or to Winter Haven. Winter Haven previously entered an interlocal agreement with Polk County to participate in the county's opioid abatement plan, and Murphy said any funds attributable to the city would flow to Polk County and be administered under that plan.
Murphy asked for authority to sign the settlement by DocuSign before the May 4 deadline to ensure Winter Haven's participation; he said the city's participation would release claims against the listed remnant defendants in exchange for the city's share of the distributed funds. Commissioners requested a later presentation from Polk County or other responsible agencies on how the county plan will allocate and spend funds so Winter Haven residents can be informed.
No dollar amounts specific to Winter Haven were provided at the meeting; Murphy said staff would follow up with Polk County to get details on the county's plan and reporting requirements.
