Many Washington cities are receiving postcards about a McKinsey class action opioid settlement. Unlike previous settlement processes, the State is not involved in this settlement, there is no sign-on process, and cities do not need to take any affirmative action to participate in the Settlement.
According to the settlement website, cities that are eligible for settlement dollars have the following options:
Remain in the Class | No need to take any action to receive your share of the Settlement. |
Object to the Settlement
Deadline (postmarked): January 5, 2024 | If you stay in the Class, you may object to the Settlement. You may submit a timely written notice of objection to the Court. |
Exclude your subdivision (opt out)
Deadline: January 5, 2024 | You may request to be excluded from the Settlement, and, if you do, you will receive no benefits from the Settlement. |
Attend the final approval hearing | If you object to the Settlement as described above, you may also ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the Settlement. |
Washington State settled with McKinsey in 2021, but this settlement was with the State only and did not include local governments. Many cities and counties then filed suit against McKinsey and the municipal lawsuits against McKinsey were centralized in a multidistrict litigation (MDL). MDL counsel negotiated the proposed nationwide settlement.
Learn more on the settlement website.
Please note that AWC is facilitating the sharing of information about the opioid settlements. The information is for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice. Cities should consult their city’s legal counsel with specific questions.