Number
191096
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
161061, 190458, 190817
Sponsor
ALD. MURPHY, HAMILTON
Title
Substitute resolution relating to settlement funds received from opioid litigation.
Analysis
This resolution directs that settlement funds received from Purdue Pharma in the settlement of opioid litigation be given to the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative.
Body
Whereas, On January 18, 2017, the Common Council adopted Resolution File Number 161061, creating a City-County Heroin, Opioid, and Cocaine Task Force; and
Whereas, On July 30, 2019, the Common Council adopted Resolution File Number 190458, authorizing the City Attorney to retain outside counsel and to investigate possible solutions to the opioid epidemic, including litigation; and
Whereas, Thousands of governmental entities throughout the United States have filed lawsuits alleging, among other things, that pharmaceutical companies and distributors engaged in fraudulent and deceptive trade practices in violation of regulatory and common law in marketing prescription opioids; and
Whereas, In 2019, in response to the overdose crisis, the Milwaukee Fire Department (MFD) partnered with the Milwaukee Health Department and several community organizations, including the Medical College of Wisconsin, to form the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative (MORI); and
Whereas, MORI uses opioid-related overdose data from MFD to initiate a rapid response by a trained community paramedic and peer support specialist to engage a client in treatment and recovery services following an overdose; and
Whereas, This initiative is a community-wide collaboration that consists of partners from treatment and recovery organizations, insurance companies, academic institutions, hospitals, health departments, and many others; and
Whereas, On October 15, 2019, the Common Council adopted Resolution File Number 190817, approving the selection of outside counsel in regard to opioid litigation; and
Whereas, According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the State of Wisconsin is expected to receive more than $65 million in a $4.3-billion, nine-year settlement with opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma and the Sackler Family; and
Whereas, The settlement plan is likely to be finalized in August of 2021; and
Whereas, Although the settlement funds will not be subject to a new law signed by Gov. Tony Evers that requires 70% of any settlement to go to local governments, it remains possible that the funds will be allocated in the same way or similarly; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the settlement funds received in the Purdue Pharma / Sackler Family opioid litigation shall be used to fund the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the proper City officials are authorized to enter into necessary contracts for this purpose.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB 176822-1
Tea B. Norfolk
7/9/2021