(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The Commissioners’ work session on Wednesday provided some insight into Beaver County’s role in a national multi-state lawsuit  that could be settled soon.

“Beaver County initiated a lawsuit along with a multitude of other counties, cities, [and] states throughout the country,” said Garen Fedeles, the Solicitor for Beaver County. “What is now happening is that the state is trying to work out a settlement for all counties and cities throughout the state to settle the lawsuit as it comes to Pennsylvania.”

Commissioner Jack Manning was the one who brought up the lawsuit during the work session, saying “It has to be everybody in, or it doesn’t work, as far as my understanding. And this is a national $26 billion [lawsuit] with Johnson & Johnson.”

“What the loose proposal is right now from the state’s negotations”, Fedeles said, “Is that the county would get approximately $8.8 million as part of  this settlement to use towards various items…the understanding is that it would be used to fight the effects of the opioid epidemic.”

The Commissioners’ next public work session is scheduled for December 8 at 10:00 AM.