In 2018, the Seneca Nation filed suit in federal court in the Western District of New York against manufacturers and distributors of opioids for their role in the misuse, abuse, and over-prescription of opioids. Similar lawsuits were brought by hundreds of other Native nations, states, counties, and cities, and consolidated into multi-district litigation (MDL) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Since then, multi-district litigation has resulted in various settlements with distributors, manufacturers, and consulting firms.
In total, five settlements have been finalized and approved by the Seneca Nation. As a result, the Nation has received $1.9 million, with additional payments of settlement funds forthcoming over the next several years. The funds are administered by a Court-approved Tribal Abatement Fund Trust and must be spent in accordance with the Tribe Trust Distribution Procedures, specifically, to:
“abate the opioid crisis with recognition of the culturally appropriate activities, practices, teachings, or ceremonies that may, in the judgment of a Tribe or a tribal health organization, be aimed at or supportive of remediation and abatement of the opioid crisis within a tribal community”.
While Native Nations are generally subject to the same list of abatement programs and services as states, they will also be able to spend settlement funds for culturally appropriate and traditional healing programs and activities, wellness courts and other Nation specific-programs and services that, in the judgment of the Nation, will promote healing, recovery, and abatement in our community.
