The Schuyler County Legislature will review and consider a resolution authorizing participation in a new national opioid settlement at its meeting on Monday, April 13, 2026.
The proposed resolution would authorize Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman to
finalize the county’s participation in a settlement with six regional
pharmaceutical distributors, collectively referred to as the “Remnant
Defendants.” The agreement, if finalized, would resolve the county’s claims
against those entities while allowing litigation against remaining defendants
to continue.
According
to Getman, under the proposed agreement, the six defendants will collectively
pay approximately $97.6 million nationwide to support opioid abatement efforts.
Each participating municipality, including Schuyler County, will receive a
one-time payment. The specific amount allocated to Schuyler County is still
being calculated based on a national formula, he said.
The
measure has already advanced through the county’s committee process, receiving
approval from the Management and Finance Committee on March 23, 2026, and the
Legislative Resolution Review Committee on April 8, 2026.
Funds
from the settlement would be used for approved opioid abatement strategies,
including prevention programs, treatment services, naloxone distribution, and
support for vulnerable populations affected by opioid addiction.
“This
proposed settlement represents another step forward in holding opioid
distributors accountable while delivering meaningful resources to our
community,” Getman said. “While the exact amount is still being determined,
these funds will directly support evidence-based strategies to combat opioid
addiction and its impacts in Schuyler County.”
Schuyler
County Administrator Shawn Rosno emphasized the importance of continued
investment in public health efforts.
“Schuyler
County has remained committed to addressing the opioid crisis through
litigation and collaboration,” Rosno said. “Participation in this settlement
will help strengthen our ability to fund prevention, treatment and recovery
programs that serve our residents at no additional costs to our taxpayers.”
Schuyler
County began pursuing legal action related to the opioid crisis in 2017, when
the Legislature authorized Getman to work with outside counsel to seek damages
from opioid manufacturers and distributors.
In
2018, the county adopted a local law declaring the opioid epidemic a public
nuisance and filed a comprehensive lawsuit against multiple opioid supply chain
participants, including manufacturers, distributors
and pharmacies.
Since
2021, Schuyler County has secured over $862,000 in opioid-related settlements,
including $121,000 from Johnson & Johnson, $546,000 from distributors
McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Drug
Corporation, $41,000 from Actavis Inc., $116,000 from Teva Pharmaceutical
Industries Ltd., and $38,000 from Sandoz Inc.
These
settlements are part of a broader national effort to hold companies accountable
for their role in the opioid crisis and to fund long-term recovery and
prevention programs at the local level.
Schuyler
County remains committed to pursuing additional claims in the ongoing
litigation to address the opioid epidemic’s devastating impact, Getman said.
