City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: August 10, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
JOANNA ANDERSON, CITY ATTORNEY /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into the Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund and Settlement Allocation Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth of Virginia for the allocation of funds from settlements of litigation regarding the opioid addiction epidemic.[ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Commonwealth of Virginia to determine how funds allocated to the state in the settlements of litigation filed to recover for costs of the opioid addiction epidemic will be allocated among the state, the localities and the abatement fund.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council adopt the resolution attached as Attachment 1 authorizing the City Manager to enter into the Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund and Settlement Allocation Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the City.
BACKGROUND: The City of Alexandria along with at least 78 other Virginia localities, has for many months been engaged in litigation against various supply chain defendants involved in the manufacture, sale and distribution of pharmaceutical opioid products. The City's suit seeks recovery of the public funds previously expended and to be expended in the future combatting opioid addiction and its many outgrowths. Similar lawsuits asserting claims on behalf of the Commonwealth have been filed by the Virginia Office of the Attorney General (OAG). This same type of litigation by state and local actors is occurring across the country. These suits are starting to come to a close through either settlements or bankruptcy plans which means funds from the litigation will start to flow to the states and localities in the coming...
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