Berkeley County Commission votes to join Purdue Pharma settlements, authorizes counsel to sign

Following an executive session on economic development and legal matters, the Berkeley County Commission voted at the July 31 meeting to participate in the Purdue Pharma direct settlement and the national settlement and to authorize county legal counsel Stephen Skinner to sign settlement documents on the county’s behalf. A commissioner moved the motion and another commissioner seconded it. The clerk recorded the vote as unanimous “aye.” Why it matters: Participation in national opioid‑related settlements is an avenue for local governments to secure settlement funds and to resolve litigation claims against opioid manufacturers and distributors. The settlement terms, allocation of funds and reporting requirements were not read in full at the public meeting. The motion was the only public action recorded after the executive session. The meeting minutes do not include the settlement documents or the detailed legal analysis presented in executive session; they record only the motion, second and unanimous vote to participate and to authorize Stephen Skinner to sign on the commission’s behalf.