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Greenlee said the only entities left for potential settlements are Purdue Pharma, the largest manufacturer of opioids in the world, and small “pharmacy-oriented” defendants and regional distributors of medications.

The resolution approved by the board, Greenlee said, was developed by the Wisconsin Counties Association with consultation from him and Outagamie County Corporation Counsel Kyle Sargent. It was a matter of efficiency, Greenlee said.

“We’re expecting that a number of those cases, probably in the dozens, are going to settle out over the next 12-18 months. Ordinarily for legal settlements of this nature, we would have to bring each one of those back to the board for a decision in a resolution. But, given that these settlements are likely to be fairly low-dollar value and the settlement structures prescribed by statute in the state of Wisconsin, it seems to not be a very good use of the board’s time,” Greenlee said.

Greenlee noted how the settlement is split, with 30% going the state and 70% to the municipalities.

The board authorized the county to enter into a settlement agreement in 2022, and the county has been receiving funds since then. Per terms of the settlement, the county has been able to expand substance use assessment to identify treatment needs in people who enter the criminal justice system, provide safe disposal packets to be dispensed with opioid prescriptions and to provide safe disposal packets to be dispensed with opioid prescriptions.

The county joined the initial lawsuit with 65 other Wisconsin counties.

Out of the initial round of opioid lawsuits, Greenlee said there are “six or seven” active settlements that the county is receiving funds from.