Proposed settlement may pay out a total of $12 billion nationwide
KINGMAN – Kingman City Attorney Carl Cooper and Deputy Mohave County Attorney Ryan Esplin are intrigued by news of a tentative settlement with OxyContin manufacturer Purdue Pharma. The city and county engaged the same law firm to enter litigation seeking compensation for the devastation of the nation’s opioid epidemic.
“It’s locally meaningful,” Cooper said. “This is just part of a giant conglomeration of litigation regarding manufacturers and distribution.”
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said Wednesday that parties have reached a proposed settlement that could see Purdue Pharma pay out some $12 billion to 20 states and about 2,000 local governments. Both local attorneys, however, caution that it will take time to sort out details of the settlement, if it gets approved.
“There’s so much we don’t know. This is litigation unlike anything else. This is so unprecedented,” Esplin said. “This is even greater than the smoking litigation and the tobacco industry settlements. This is bigger!”
Both local attorneys believe that any settlement money coming to the city or county won’t likely go into the general fund. Esplin and Cooper believe the money instead would be earmarked for opioid awareness and prevention and drug treatment programs.
