WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — The Schuyler County Legislature will review and consider a resolution authorizing participation in a new national opioid settlement at its meeting on Monday, April 13, 2026.
The proposed resolution would authorize Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman to finalize the county’s participation in a settlement with six regional pharmaceutical distributors, collectively referred to as the “Remnant Defendants.” The agreement, if finalized, would resolve the county’s claims against those entities while allowing litigation against remaining defendants to continue.
According to Getman, under the proposed agreement, the six defendants will collectively pay approximately $97.6 million nationwide to support opioid abatement efforts. Each participating municipality, including Schuyler County, will receive a one-time payment. The specific amount allocated to Schuyler County is still being calculated based on a national formula, he said.
The measure has already advanced through the county’s committee process, receiving approval from the Management and Finance Committee on March 23, 2026, and the Legislative Resolution Review Committee on April 8, 2026.
Funds from the settlement would be used for approved opioid abatement strategies, including prevention programs, treatment services, naloxone distribution, and support for vulnerable populations affected by opioid addiction.
“This proposed settlement represents another step forward in holding opioid distributors accountable while delivering meaningful resources to our community,” Getman said. “While the exact amount is still being determined, these funds will directly support evidence-based strategies to combat opioid addiction and its impacts in Schuyler County.”
Schuyler County Administrator Shawn Rosno emphasized the importance of continued investment in public health efforts.
“Schuyler County has remained committed to addressing the opioid crisis through litigation and collaboration,” Rosno said. “Participation in this settlement will help strengthen our ability to fund prevention, treatment and recovery programs that serve our residents at no additional costs to our taxpayers.”
Schuyler County began pursuing legal action related to the opioid crisis in 2017, when the Legislature authorized Getman to work with outside counsel to seek damages from opioid manufacturers and distributors.
In 2018, the county adopted a local law declaring the opioid epidemic a public nuisance and filed a comprehensive lawsuit against multiple opioid supply chain participants, including manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies.
Since 2021, Schuyler County has secured over $862,000 in opioid-related settlements, including $121,000 from Johnson & Johnson, $546,000 from distributors McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, $41,000 from Actavis Inc., $116,000 from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and $38,000 from Sandoz Inc.
These settlements are part of a broader national effort to hold companies accountable for their role in the opioid crisis and to fund long-term recovery and prevention programs at the local level.
Schuyler County remains committed to pursuing additional claims in the ongoing litigation to address the opioid epidemic’s devastating impact, Getman said.
