Orange County NC Website
ORANGE COUNTY <�"4` <br /> P.O. BOX 8181 <br /> Office of the County 200 S. CAMERON STREET <br /> Attorney HILLSBOROUGH, NC 27278 <br /> Otth cE AC 9`y�• <br /> TO: Board of County Commissioners <br /> Jean Hamilton, Chair <br /> Amy Fowler, Vice Chair <br /> Jamezetta Bedford <br /> Marilyn Carter <br /> Sally Greene <br /> Earl McKee <br /> Phyllis Portie-Ascott <br /> FROM: John Roberts, County Attorney <br /> DATE: April 3, 2026 <br /> RE: Opioid Litigation Settlement Report <br /> The purpose of this memorandum is to report the terms of multiple settlements related to the <br /> National Opioid Litigation MDL 2804. The National Opioid Litigation has been ongoing since <br /> 2017. Orange County continues to participate as a plaintiff. <br /> North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(3) provides that when the settlement of litigation <br /> is authorized or considered in closed session the terms of the settlement will be entered into the <br /> minutes of the public body. <br /> As previously reported, national settlements have been finalized with multiple manufacturer and <br /> distributor defendants. On March 5, 2026 the Board of County Commissioners entered closed <br /> session to consider a settlement with an additional six defendants. These six regional <br /> distributors/dispenser defendants: Associated Pharmacies, Inc. (and American Associated <br /> Pharmacies); J M Smith Corporation; Louisiana Wholesale Drug Company, Inc.; Morris and <br /> Dickson Co.; North Carolina Mutual Wholesale Drug Company, Inc.; and United Natural Foods, <br /> Inc. (including its subsidiaries SuperValu and Advantage Logistics). <br /> This settlement resulted in an additional $97,625,000 in funds available to the plaintiffs. These <br /> funds are distributable among all the more than 2000 plaintiffs. Orange County's very minor <br /> share of 0.0340013667% of this amount is determined by a formula developed by the plaintiffs' <br /> attorneys and approved by the Court. All funds received by Orange County must be used to <br /> address the opioid epidemic and is limited by the intergovernmental agreement with the State of <br /> North Carolina. <br />