The general assembly finds and declares the following:

(1) The opioid crisis presents serious health and safety concerns throughout the state and is a threat to the general welfare of the people of this state;

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 20-13-201

  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(2) The provision of care, rehabilitation, and treatment for opioid abuse and dependency creates a substantial drain on governmental resources;
(3) It is the intention of the general assembly to facilitate statewide opioid settlement agreements that provide a coordinated resolution of state and local governmental claims against entities involved in the manufacture, marketing, distribution, dispensing, or sale of opioids, or related activities, in order to generate funds for opioid abatement programs and remediation; and
(4) A statewide coordinated resolution of state and local claims against entities involved in activities related to the manufacture, marketing, distribution, dispensing, or sale of opioids, or related activities, is critical to resolving current litigation and other claims regarding the opioid crisis and maximizing the financial commitment of those entities.
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