The process for applying for reimbursement of Agreed Litigation Conduct (Common Benefit) fees from the Pennsylvania Opioid Fee Fund is now open to those firms who have timely submitted an Intent to Participate Form indicating that they intend to apply for an award of common benefit fees.

Common Benefit Fee Application

Applicants who have indicated that they intend to apply for an award of common benefit fees concerning professional services incurred in connection with the representation of Pennsylvania clients who filed cases in the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania and timely executed Participation Agreements to participate in the J&J and Distributor Settlements shall submit a completed Common Benefit Fee Application via the Rubris Crosslink System.

As required, in order to recover fees, costs and expenses from the Fee Fund, counsel must agree to waive enforcement of their fee contracts with respect to the Pennsylvania Participating Subdivisions for whom they are seeking an award of fees.

DEADLINE: the deadline to submit the Common Benefit Fee Application is May 1, 2023. 

AGREED LITIGATION CONDUCT (COMMON BENEFIT) FEES RESOURCES

1. (August 2, 2022) Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Motion to Establish a Pennsylvania Opioid Fee Fund and Appoint a Special Master to Determine and Disburse Attorneys’ Fees and Establish a Procedure for Reimbursing Counsel for Documented Expenses and Costs

2. (February 17, 2023) Order Establishing Application Protocols for Allocation and Payment of Contingency and Agreed Litigation Conduct (A/K/A Common Benefit) Fees Under the Pennsylvania Opioids Trust and Allocation Order

3. PA Time Billing Guide

4. PA Common Benefit Fund Application User Guide

5. (January 29, 2024) Special Master’s Report and Recommendation on the Allocation of Agreed Litigation Conduct (A/K/A Common Benefit) Fees

6. (February 15, 2024) Application of Special Master Judge Joel Schneider (Ret.) for Court Approval of the Final Agreed Litigation Conduct (A/K/A Common Benefit) Fee Awards

7. (February 16, 2024) Order Approving Final Agreed Litigation Conduct (A/K/A Common Benefit) Fee Awards