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Moreland Hills council approves joining Kroger opioid litigation settlement
Summary
The council voted to authorize the mayor to sign a participation and release agreement in the national opioid litigation involving Kroger; the move was approved after suspension of rules and brief council discussion of the national settlement context.
Moreland Hills Village Council on July 10 approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a subdivision participation and release agreement to settle the village’s claims against Kroger in the national opioid litigation. Council members voted to suspend the rules and then approve the participation form.
The law director, Mr Hannah, presented the ordinance and the proposed document that would allow the village to participate in the national settlement. During discussion, Councilmember Mr Fish summarized the broader litigation, saying manufacturers and distributors agreed to multi-billion-dollar settlements to resolve claims that “manufacturers overstated the benefits and downplayed the risk of the use of the opioids and aggressively marketed” their products. Mr Fish noted distributor and manufacturer settlement totals cited in national reports during his remarks.
Council recorded voice votes after a motion to suspend the rules and a motion to authorize the mayor to execute the participation and release form; the motions carried by affirmative votes from members present. The ordinance was presented as emergency legislation and the council approved the measure at the same meeting.
Why it matters: The national opioid settlements distribute funds and release claims related to years of prescription opioid marketing and distribution. By approving participation, Moreland Hills preserves the village’s ability to receive an allocated share of settlement proceeds and to release covered claims as described in the participation agreement.
The village law director said the participation percentage for Moreland Hills is small relative to statewide totals; detailed allocation and timing are set by the national settlement documents and implementing agreements that accompany the participation forms. The council did not discuss a specific projected dollar amount for Moreland Hills during the meeting.
Next steps: The mayor is authorized to sign the participation and release form; council members asked the law director to continue to monitor settlement implementation and to provide updates when distribution schedules or allocation figures are available.
