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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> DATE: February 19, 2019 Re: Comm. No. 12/Res. No. 20-19 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 1:06 p.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 20-19, reports as follows: <br /> Resolution No. 20-19, transmitted by Kaena Horowitz, Deputy Corporation Counsel, via <br /> Communication No. 12 dated November 7, 2018, authorizes the employment of a private <br /> attorney to represent the County of Hawai`i in litigation against opioid manufacturers who may <br /> be liable to the County of Hawai`i for the opioid epidemic. <br /> The Office of the Corporation Counsel requests the Council's approval to hire Napoli Shkolnik <br /> PLLC and its local counsel,the HI Accident Law Center, with any and all compensation to be <br /> provided from potential settlement or award amounts. <br /> Finance Committee Meeting of January 8, 2019 <br /> Council Member Herbert "Tim"Richards, III, feels there is a heavy focus on manufacturing and • <br /> not on the distribution. Mr. Richards commented it is the other way around, and the focus should <br /> be more on the distribution. <br /> Mr. Horowitz stated that the lawsuit is based on a national perspective. Manufacturing is not the <br /> sole point of the litigation and it would attach every point of the distribution chain. The idea <br /> would be all encompassing from start to finish. <br /> Council Chair Aaron Chung asked how many other counties are involved. Mr. Horowitz stated <br /> that Kauai has moved forward, and the Big Island would be second if it were to go ahead. Maui <br /> is willing to go forward within the next month or two. <br /> Mr. Horowitz stated there are many lawsuits across the nation being sort of collected, so the idea <br /> would be the County would join one of these lawsuits. The County would not have to front any <br /> money should an agreement be put in place. If a settlement or judgment should result in the <br /> County's favor,.the attorneys would take their percentage and the County would take the <br /> remainder. However, if there was a judgment against the County, the County would not have to <br /> bear any costs. <br /> FC Report No.: 15 <br />