Number
211799
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
161061, 190458, 190817, 191096
Sponsor
ALD. MURPHY
Title
Substitute resolution relating to settlement funds received from opioid litigation.
Analysis
This resolution directs that settlement funds received from all settling defendants in the settlement of opioid litigation be used to fund the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative and other harm-reduction strategies.
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, On January 29, 2020, the City joined the National Prescription Opiate multidistrict litigation by filing a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division, case no. 20-op-45044-DAP; and
Whereas, On July 27, 2021, the Common Council adopted Resolution File Number 191096, relating to settlement funds received from opioid litigation; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the settlement funds received in the opioid litigation shall be used to fund the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative and other harm-reduction strategies; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the proper City officials are authorized to enter into necessary contracts for this purpose; and, be it
Further Resolved, That Common Council Resolution File Number 191096 is rescinded.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB 177280-2
Tea B. Norfolk
3/4/2022