CHARLESTON – Rusty Webb has been traversing the state handing out opioid settlement checks to city and county officials.
Webb, who operates the Webb Law Centre in Charleston, represented 45 municipal and county governments in addition to being a special assistant AG on the state case against the opioid companies.
As part of last year’s settlement agreement, the statewide global settlement was more than $940 million. All 55 counties and almost every municipality took part in the litigation. The common benefit fund for the opioid litigation was created in 2021 by the state Mass Litigation Panel to provide “a single process for attorneys’ fees and case costs.”
Earlier this month, Webb visited several cities and counties to hand out the first of the checks. He said the amounts of the checks ranged from just under $5,000 to more than $4 million.
“The response was a mixture of relief and determination,” Webb told The West Virginia Record. “It’s been good to start distributing the money. It’s definitely needed, and it’s good that the money will start getting out there where it’s needed.”
Webb said state auditor J.B. McCuskey attended a few of the presentations with him. He said McCuskey had good advice for the government officials regarding the funds.
“Don’t get paralysis by analysis,” Webb quoted McCuskey. “Don’t overthink it or ‘overcommittee’ it. Get the money out to those who need it.”
Local governments have broad discretion to decide which approved uses are best to spend their share of the settlement money. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s office has said a partnership with the Auditor’s office will ensure that not only the terms of the settlement are met but also provide additional resources for local governments as they put these money to use fighting the opioid epidemic.
Webb said some of the governments already have come up with ideas for their shares.
“Those who have shared ideas with me, for example, one is iving it to Boys & Girls Clubs to help keep kids off the streets and away from drugs,” Webb said. “One city is thinking about giving it a local hospital that has a rehabilitation division. Another city wants to give it to the local recovery center.”
Webb, a former state delegate and Charleston city council member himself, said he has learned valuable lessons while discussing issues with city and county leaders over the last several years.
“Somebody needs to talk about this top down dictation that comes from the Legislature to cities and counties,” he said. “I’ve been around a lot mayors, commissioners, council people and others discussing these issues and more. They have the answers to the solutions to their problems. The entire focus needs to be more of a bottom-up situation. The Legislature should listen and legislate based on what the counties and cities have to say.
“This isn’t Mayberry anymore. They’ve been ignored for too long, and they have a lot to say. And what they have to say is profound, it’s important and it has clarity. They’re smart people, and they know how to run cities, and Legislature needs to listen to them. They know a lot more about taxation, infrastructure, drug treatment and other important issues that many people think they do.”
