Clinton County due $1 million-plus in national opioid case settlement

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Word has been received that Clinton County will be getting more than $1 million as its share of the $26 billion to be distributed nationwide, the money the penalty for drug companies’ role in the national opioid epidemic.

The county commissioners heard of the local share at their work session Monday from lawyers with Boni, Zack & Snyder LLC of Philadelphia. Appearing by Zoom, attorney Joshua D. Snyder said the county will be getting $1 million as part of the settlement, plus another $260,000 because the county had joined the lawsuit. It is understood the money will be spread over 18 years and must be used for opioid remediation within the county.

According to Clinton County Chief Clerk Jann Meyers, the county had signed on to the legal action in2018; the firm of Rosamilia, Brungard and Rosamilia the local representatives in the matter.

The nationwide settlement had been announced in July of this year. Three major drug distributors are to pay $21 billion over the 18 years. They are McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen. Johnson & Johnson, which previously provided a portion of the raw material for opioids and had been involved in the sale of some painkillers, is to pay $5 billion over nine years.

Attorney Snyder told the commissioners they must sign on to the settlement to receive the money. It was indicated the commissioners would vote on the matter at one of their two final voting sessions this month, this Thursday, Dec. 16, or their final meeting on Dec. 30. January 2 is the deadline for local approval.

The county has been provided some 14 pages of “core abatement strategies” on how the money may be used as part of a nationwide opioid remediation effort.