Council reports closed-session authorization for opioid settlement and reviews liability claims

The Santa Cruz City Council reported out in open session that it discussed liability claims and authorized the city to enter an opioid settlement agreement with several regional distributors.

The city attorney told the council the closed session considered liability claims, including those filed by State Farm Mutual Insurance Company, Corbin James Sabo and Marco A. Martinez Diaz, and that the council authorized the city to enter into a settlement agreement with six regional distributors/dispensers. The attorney named the companies included in the agreement and said funds received must be spent on abatement of opioid-related impacts.

The attorney estimated the city is expected to receive no more than $15,359.49 from the settlement. The attorney also reported the council met on anticipated litigation and discussed other pending cases; with respect to some litigation the attorney said there was no further reportable action.

The report was given in open session by the city attorney; no additional details about the settlement terms or vote tallies were provided in the public report. The council did not discuss further open-session action on those items at the time.