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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 23-8162 - Authorize CM to Enter Into Settlement Agmts & Auth Entry into State-Subdivisions AgmtsI N :61101 ItIl 11 Eel ki I I RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH WALGREENS CO., WALMART, INC., CVS HEALTH CORPORATION/CVS PHARMACY INC., TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIALS LTD., AND ALLERGAN FINANCE LLC/ALLERGAN LIMITED, AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THE STATE -SUBDIVISION AGREEMENTS, AND AUTHORIZE ENTRY INTO THE STATE -SUBDIVISION AGREEMENTS WITH THE ATTORNEY GENE12,4L WHEREAS, the United States is facing an ongoing public health crisis of opioid abuse, addiction, overdose, and death, forcing the State of California and California counties and cities to spend billions of dollars each year to address the direct consequences of this crisis; and, WHEREAS, pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is a multiclistrict litigation ("MDL") being pursued by numerous public entity plaintiffs against the manufacturers and distributors of various opioids based on the allegation that the defendants' unlawful conduct caused the opioid epidemic; and, WHEREAS on or about November 14, 2022, a proposed nationwide tentative settlement was reached between the plaintiffs in the MDL and Walmart Inc. ("Walmart"); and, WHEREAS on or about November 22, 2022, a proposed nationwide tentative settlement was reached between the plaintiffs in the MDL and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and all of its respective past and present direct or indirect parents, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, joint ventures, predecessors, successors, assigns, including but not limited to Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Actavis LLC (f/k/a Actavis Inc.), Actavis Elizabeth LLC, Actavis Kadian LLC, Actavis Pharma, Inc. (f/k/a Watson Pharma, Inc.), Actavis Kadian LLC, Actavis Laboratories UT, Inc. (f/k/a Watson Laboratories, Inc. — Utah), Actavis Mid Atlantic LLC, Actavis Totowa LLC, Actavis Laboratories FL, Inc. (f/k/a Watson Laboratories, Inc. — Florida), Actavis South Atlantic LLC, Warner Chilcott Company LLC, and Watson Laboratories, Inc., and Anda Inc. (collectively, "Teva"); and, WHEREAS on or about November 22, 2022, a proposed nationwide tentative settlement was reached between the plaintiffs in the MDL and Allergan Finance, LLC (f/k/a Actavis, Inc., which in turn was f/k/a Watson Pharmaceutics, Inc.) and Allergan Limited (f/k/a Allergan plc, which, in turn, was f/k/a Actavis pic)(collectively, "Allergan"); and, WHEREAS, on or about December 9, 2022, a proposed nationwide tentative settlement was reached between the plaintiffs in the MDL and CVS Health Corporation and CVS Pharmacy, Inc. and all of their past and present direct and indirect parent and subsidiaries (collectively, "CVS"); and, WHEREAS, on or about December 9, 2022, a proposed nationwide tentative settlement was reached between the plaintiffs in the MDL and Walgreen Co. ("Walgreens"); and, WHEREAS, CVS, Teva, Walgreens, Walmart, and Allergan shall be referred in this Resolution as "Settling Defendants"; and WHEREAS, as part of the settlements with the Settling Defendants, local subdivisions, including certain cities, that are not plaintiffs in the MDL may participate in the settlements in exchange for a release of the Settling Defendants; and, 14 • 0 k• I W-10 MUr-K'll[ILXQw�l 0 4 11 U%-'!:IAQrlmil .-%'ESOLUTION NO. as: (a) the county is a CA Participating Subdivision, and (b) the city has not advised the Settlement Fund Administrator that it requests direct payment at least 60 days prior to a Payment Date; and, WHEREAS, it the intent of this Resolution is to authorize the City to enter into the Master Settlement Agreements with the Settling Defendants by executing the Participation Agreements and to enter into the Allocation Agreements by executing the signature pages to those agreements. THEREFORE, COUNCILOF OF FOLLOWS:HEREBY RESOLVE AS SECTION 1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference. SECTION 2. The City Manager is authorized to settle and release the City's claims against the Settling Defendants in exchange for the consideration set forth in the Settlement Agreements and Allocation Agreements, including taking the following measures: 1. The execution of the Participation Agreements with the Settling Defendants and any and all documents ancillary thereto. 2. The execution of the Proposed California State -Subdivision Agreement Regarding Distribution and Use of Settlement Funds with the Settling Defendants by executing the signature pages to those Allocation Agreements. 3. Notify the Settlement Fund Administrator that the City requests a direct payment under the Allocation Agreements at least 60 days prior to the Payment Date in the Settlement Agreements. SECTION 3. The City Manager is authorized to, without further City Council review or approval, settle and release the City's claims against any other manufacturers and/or distributors of various opioids based on the allegation that the defendants' unlawful conduct caused the opioid epidemic ("Future Settling Defendants"), in exchange for consideration set forth in agreements substantially similar to the Settlement Agreements and Allocation Agreements. This authorization includes the authority to: 1. Execute any participation agreements with any Future Settling Defendants, and any and all documents ancillary thereto; and 2. Execute the Proposed California State -Subdivision Agreement Regarding Distribution and Use of Settlement Funds with any Future Settling Defendants by executing the signature pages to those Allocation Agreements; and 3. Notify the Settlement Fund Administrator that the City requests a direct payment under the Allocation Agreements at least 60 days prior to the payment date in any settlement agreements with Future Settling Defendants. SECTION 4. CEQA. That the City Council finds this Resolution is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in that the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty, as in this case, that there is no possibility that NffT lIffEW-SU JUTS PAGE 4 the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. SECTION 5. Severability. If any provision of this Resolution or the application thereof t"I any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions ol applications, and to this end the provisions of this Resolution are declared to be severable. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 111h day of April, 2023. X CLALiDTA-a FRONWETA, Vayor MIM" I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Downey at a Regular meeting held on the 1 1th day of April, 2023, by the following vote, tit ATES: Council Members.- Horn, Sosa, Trujillo, Fromef - NOES: Council Members: None. ABSENT: Council Members: None. ABSTAIN: Council Members: None. IA Ll AVIA AA C�IADU�ART C�� City Clerk