Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • A3

LOCAL STATE Tuesday, August 31, 2021 3A BY C.T. BOWEN Times Staff Writer Hillsborough share of an opioid litigation settlement could reach $60 million for treat- ment, prevention and other efforts to combat the decades-long addic- tion crisis. The dollars, to be paid out over 18 years, come from a $26 billion settlement announced last month to end litigation from state and local governments against Johnson Johnson and three drug distributors Cardi- nal Health, AmerisourceBergen and McKesson. The exact amount of the payout yet known, but the outside legal team estimated Hill- sborough could net $50 million to $60 million, according to formulas established for computing dam- ages. The county used attorney Michael Moore, the former Mis- sissippi attorney general, to file suit in 2018 against 14 compa- nies, alleging drug manufactur- ers helped cause the addiction cri- sis and violated Decep- tive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by aggressively marketing opi- oid drugs, overplaying their ben- efits in treating chronic pain and downplaying their dangers.

More than 3,500 governments, including the state of Florida, filed similar suits which were con- solidated in federal court in Ohio where the settlement was reached. The Hillsborough County Com- mission is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a resolution and accompanying memorandum of understanding to begin the pro- cess of settling its claim. The county eventually will receive its share of the proceeds through the state of Florida. happy with the Commissioner Stacy White said Monday. a practicing pharma- cist, watched this epidemic play out first hand.

There were some times throughout the early 2000s and into the 2010s that were not really pretty for our soci- Separately, the litiga- tion against Purdue Pharma the maker of OxyContin and Dilau- did retailers Walgreens and CVS and seven other companies con- tinues. It could result in future set- tlements, according to a memo- randum to commissioners. company should ever place its desire for profits above the health and well-being of its cus- tomers or the communities where Opioid payout up to $60M The proceeds will finance treatment programs and other efforts to combat the addiction crisis. TONY MARRERO Times (2018) Attorney Mike Moore in 2018, with Commissioner Sandy Murman, Sheriff Chad Chronister and State Attorney Andrew Warren. See OPIOID, 16A BY JEFFREY S.

SOLOCHEK Times Staff Writer Gov. Ron effort to prevent Florida schools from issu- ing blanket mask mandates is con- tinuing to draw legal challenges. ruling by a Leon County circuit judge who said the gover- nor had overreached appears to be just the start of a court fight that could play out on many fronts. The challenges are expected to keep coming in state and federal courts as school boards in several counties have asked their attor- neys to explore all avenues to pro- tect their authority to adopt pol- icies they find in the best health interest of students and staff. will be said Ed Guedes, a Coral Gables lawyer rep- resenting the Miami-Dade County school district in its latest effort to fight the state rules.

Guedes on Friday asked the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal to review an issue that the Leon County case did not touch the validity of the Aug. 6 Depart- ment of Health emergency rule that requires schools to include an opt-out clause in any mask rules they adopt. The Department of Education has used the rule in its attempts to keep 10 districts, including Hillsborough County, from imposing mask mandates. The Leon County judge, John C. Cooper, said he could not tackle the rule because the Department of Health was not included in the case before him.

contention is there was no basis at all for them to have enacted their rule on an emer- gency Guedes said. The reason for the rule, the state said, was immediate danger to the public not from the summer spike in coronavirus cases but from the possibility that school districts might Flo- constitutional by requiring students to wear masks. really pass the straight face Guedes said. The Department of Health did not respond to a request for com- State faces more legal battles over masks Corrections Susanne Dockery, 57, of Brooks- ville has defended the training in Hernando County schools and argued critical race theory is not being taught. A caption in edition misidentified her position.

Artist Lenn Neff collaborated on a piece with Susan Gott at the Municipal Services Center in St. Petersburg called Earth Sign Chan- deliers. A story in edition incorrectly named the piece. A federal case lingers, while school districts begin to bring another set of challenges. BY TRACEY MCMANUS Times Staff Writer CLEARWATER City resi- dents expecting to vote in March on retail, restaurant and residen- tial developments to surround the downtown waterfront park will no longer see the proposal on their ballots.

Jupiter-based developer Craig Govan withdrew his plans for three city parcels after he and city staff could not come to an agree- ment during conceptual discus- sions over a parking garage on the downtown bluff. Govan said a parking garage with more than 400 parking spaces would be necessary for a three-story food hall and brew- ery with event space he proposed for the corner of Osceola Avenue and Cleveland Street. Assistant City Manager Michael Delk dis- agreed, saying a parking garage is not the best use of prime waterfront property. just appeared as though from a philosophical perspective we were not going to be able to come to a meeting of the Delk told the Clearwater City Council at a Monday work ses- sion. Officials did not panic over the deal falling through.

As the $84 million renovation of the down- town waterfront progresses, they expect it to attract more interest from developers for the surround- ing parcels. Imagine Clearwa- ter, which broke ground in July, is expected to be completed in sum- mer 2023 and will include an out- door amphitheater, gardens, a bluff walk and a gateway plaza. do believe as we start to go vertical and people see the project coming out of the ground to our west, they are going to realize the opportunity, and that might open new windows of opportu- nity to us, so really excited about Mayor Frank Hibbard said. Clearwater, developer part ways over parking City of Clearwater Plans for a food hall and brewery for the corner of Osceola Avenue and Cleveland Street included a 400-space parking garage. Govan withdraws his plans after city says garage is not the best use of prime waterfront property.

See IMAGINE, 4A See MASK, 8A BY DAN SULLIVAN Times Staff Writer TAMPA On the witness stand, Kyle Moran talked about the progress he has made after serving 25 years in prison for a crime he committed at 16. He talked about complet- ing the transitional living pro- gram at Abe Brown Ministries, the educational certificates he has earned, the job he has worked for more than a year with a company that installs fire sprinklers. He talked about how he has never violated pro- bation, and how he recently paid off his court fees. Then came a question from his attorney: How does he deal with the fact that more than a quarter century ago, he was involved in the loss of a per- life? Moran, 43, his voice quaver- ing with emotion, said it something he intended, and that for many years he strug- gled with what he had done. realized for me to move on I have to put it behind he said.

not that forgot- ten. But I realize I change what happened, but I can change who I am from that day Moran, 43, testified Monday before a judge who will deter- mine whether he remains free. He was convicted as a teen in the 1994 shooting death of Manuel Huerta, a retired Tampa bus driver. Once condemned to spend the rest of his life in prison, Moran was released two years ago after a judge decided he had served his time. It was the Freedom in the balance Photos by MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE Times Kyle Moran testifies on his behalf during a sentence review hearing.

Moran served 25 years in prison for a murder at 16. Hillsborough Circuit Judge Kimberly Fernandez settles in during a sentence review hearing for Kyle Moran. Moran, who served 25 years before release, is back in court for a sentence review. See MORAN, 9A.