HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2025 (26)ST. C ROI�X 74LI.NTY
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Resolution No. 26 (2025)
RESOLUTION CONFIRMING AND RATIFYING THE AUTHORITY
OF COUNSEL FOR ST. CROIX COUNTY TO ADD ADDITIONAL
DEFENDANTS TO OPIOID LITIGATION, INCLUDING IN MDL 2804
1 WHEREAS, the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors previously authorized the County
2 to enter into an engagement agreement with von Briesen & Roper, s.c., Crueger Dickinson LLC
3 and Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC (the "Law Firms") to pursue litigation against manufacturers,
4 distributors, and retailers, among others, of opioid pharmaceuticals (the "opioid Defendants") in
5 an effort to hold the Opioid Defendants responsible for the opioid epidemic in St. Croix County's
6 community; and
8 WHEREAS, on behalf of St. Croix County, the Law Firms filed a lawsuit against the
9 Opioid Defendants; ,and
10
11 WHEREAS, the Law Firms filed similar lawsuits on behalf of 66 other Wisconsin counties
12 and all Wisconsin cases were coordinated with thousands of other lawsuits filed against the same
13 or substantially similar parties as the Opioid Defendants in the Northern District of Ohio, captioned
14 In re: Opioid Litigation, MDL 2804 (the "Litigation"); and
15
16 WHEREAS, four (4) additional Wisconsin counties (Milwaukee, Dane, Waukesha, and
17 Walworth) hired separate counsel and joined the Litigation; and
18
19 WHEREAS, since the inception of the Litigation, the Law Firms have coordinated with
20 counsel from around the country (including counsel for Milwaukee, Dane, Waukesha, and
21 Walworth Counties) to prepare St. Croix County's case for trial and engage in settlement
22 discussions with the Opioid Defendants; and
23
24 WHEREAS, to date, through nationwide settlements, the Law Firms have achieved
25 considerable success on behalf of St. Croix County in holding the Opioid Defendants responsible
26 for their role in creating or maintaining the opioid epidemic; and
27
28 WHEREAS, through the course of ongoing discovery and investigation concerning the
29 opioid epidemic and parties potentially responsible therefor, it was determined that meritorious
30 opioid-related claims exist against additional parties, including but not limited to the entities listed
31 on Exhibit A hereto, and that they should be added as defendants in the Litigation; and
32
33 WHEREAS, the engagement agreement with the Law Firms provides "depending upon
34 the results of initial investigations of the facts and circumstances surrounding the potential
35 claim(s), there may be additional parties sought to be made responsible ....;" and
36
37 WHEREAS, while St. Croix County believes the engagement agreement with the Law
38 Firms provided the Law Firms with adequate authority to add additional parties to be held
39 responsible, St. Croix County understands that recently those parties questioned that authority, and
40 therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, St. Croix County is adopting this Resolution confirming and
Resolution No. 26 (2025)
ST. CR0WK, UNTY RESOLUTION CONFIRMING AND RATIFYING THE AUTHORITY
OF COUNSEL FOR ST. CROIX COUNTY TO ADD ADDITIONAL
DEFENDANTS TO OPIOID LITIGATION, INCLUDING IN MDL 2804
41 ratifying the Law Firms' authority to add additional parties, including but not limited to the entities
42 listed on Exhibit A, as defendants in the Litigation; and
43
44 WHEREAS, to avoid any confusion surrounding St. Croix County's authorization to the
45 Law Firms to amend the pleadings in the Litigation to include additional parties, including but not
46 limited to the entities listed on Exhibit A as named defendants in MDL 2804, this Resolution is
47 intended to serve as confirmation and ratification of such authorization; and
48
49 WHEREAS, St. Croix County, by this Resolution, intends to confirm and ratify the
50 authority of the Law Firms to amend the pleadings in the Litigation to add additional parties,
51 including but not limited to the entities listed on Exhibit A as defendants in MDL 2804, or to
52 commence appropriate federal or state court proceedings against such entities, and further intends
53 to authorize St. Croix County Corporation Counsel to execute and deliver any and all other and
54 further documents necessary to effectuate the intent of this Resolution.
55
56 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the St. Croix County Board of
57 Supervisors hereby confirms and ratifies the authority of:
58
59 1. The Law Firms to file appropriate pleadings in MDL 2804 or appropriate federal
60 or state court proceedings to add additional parties, including but not limited to the
61 entities listed on Exhibit A as defendants.
62
63 2. The St. Croix County Corporation Counsel, Board Chair or other authorized official
64 to execute and deliver any and all other and further documents necessary to
65 effectuate the intent of this Resolution.
66
67 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all actions heretofore taken by the St. Croix County
68 Board of Supervisors and other appropriate public officers and agents of St. Croix County with
69 respect to the matters contemplated under this Resolution are hereby ratified, confirmed, and
70 approved.
71
Administration Committee Recommended
MOVER: Bob Feidler
SECONDER: Ryan Sherley
AYES: Scott Counter, Bob Feidler, Bob Long, Ryan Sherley
EXCUSED: Paul Berning
ST. CROIN, CC` .NTY
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Resolution No. 26 (2025)
RESOLUTION CONFIRMING AND RATIFYING THE AUTHORITY
OF COUNSEL FOR ST. CROIX COUNTY TO ADD ADDITIONAL
DEFENDANTS TO OPIOID LITIGATION, INCLUDING IN MDL 2804
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Action:
This Resolution was ADOPTED by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors on June 3, 2025.
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Bob Long, Couilif b4X Chair Christine Hines, County Clerk