KROGER NATIONAL OPIOIDS SETTLEMENT

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Docusign Envelope ID: 16E112FF-704F-42C8-8ECE-9BO4AO27CEOD e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement does not limit the statutory or constitutional authority of any state or local agency or official to conduct audits, investigations, or other oversight activities, or to pursue administrative, civil, or criminal enforcement actions. C. CA Subdivision Fund Fifteen percent of the total Settlement Fund payments will be allocated to the CA Subdivision Fund. All funds in the CA Subdivision Fund will be allocated among the Plaintiff Subdivisions that are Initial Participating Subdivisions. The funds will be used, subject to any limits imposed by the Kroger Settlement Agreement and this CA Kroger Allocation Agreement, to fund future Opioid Remediation and reimburse past opioid- related expenses, which may include fees and expenses related to litigation, and to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Special Master as set forth in Appendix 2. The CA Subdivision Funds will be allocated as follows: a) First, funds in the CA Subdivision Fund shall be used to pay the Special Master's reasonable fees and expenses in accordance with the procedures and limitations set forth in Appendix 2 to this document; b) Second, funds will be allocated to Plaintiff Subdivisions that are Initial Participating Subdivisions that have been awarded Costs, as defined by and in accordance with the procedures and limitations set forth in Appendix 2 to this document. c) Funds remaining in the CA Subdivision Fund, which shall consist of no less than 50% of the total CA Subdivision Fund received in any year pursuant to Appendix 2, Section 2.c.v, will be distributed to Plaintiff Subdivisions that are Initial Participating Subdivisions, in relative proportion to the Local Allocation. These funds shall be used to fund future opioid-related projects and to reimburse past opioid-related expenses, which may include fees and expenses related to litigation against any Opioid Defendant. D. Provision for State Back -Stop Agreement On August 6, 2021, Judge Dan Polster of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, issued an order (ECF Docket Number 3814) ("MDL Fees Order") in the National Prescription Opiate Litigation (MDL No. 2804) "cap[ping] all applicable contingent fee agreements at 15%." Private counsel representing Plaintiff Subdivisions should seek its contingency fees and costs from the Attorney Fee Fund or Cost Funds under the Kroger Settlement Agreement, and, if applicable, the Teva Settlement Agreement, Allergan Settlement Agreement, CVS Settlement Agreement, Distributor Settlement Agreement, Janssen Settlement Agreement, and Walmart Settlement Agreement. A Plaintiff Subdivision may separately agree to use its share of the CA Subdivision Fund to pay for fees or costs incurred by its contingency -fee counsel ("State Back -Stop Agreement"), 612