Purdue Pharma attacked in new court ruling

At this point, the name Bandit Yes become synonymous with the opioid crisis — a horrible and brutal phenomenon that has killed more than half a million Americans in the past two decades. And on Thursday, that guy got another blow by a federal judge Colleen McMahon of the Southern District of New York. McMahon was elected to overturn A bankruptcy settlement will protect members of the Sackler family — and their company, Purdue Pharma — against current and future civil lawsuits involving the drug OxyContin.

In essence, the bankruptcy court offered to protect Sackler family members from certain liabilities if they agreed to spend $4.5 billion to settle their drug-related lawsuits. himself and to reorganize Purdue. However, McMahon argued that the court did not have the authority to make such an agreement. The bankruptcy filing comes after thousands of lawsuits allege that the Sacklers and their drug company caused the opioid epidemic by promoting OxyContin to the public without specifying its side effects. (Sacklers and Purdue Pharma have repeatedly denied these allegations.)

Of course, President Purdue Steve Miller indicated that the company would appeal McMahon’s ruling. “While the district court’s decision does not affect Purdue’s steady operation or its ability to safely and effectively manufacture many drugs, it will delay and perhaps end its ability to operate safely. received billions of dollars from creditors, communities and individuals for de-escalating the opioid crisis,” said Mr speak in a statement. Minister of Justice Merrick Garland issued a statement about its own judgment, speech, “The bankruptcy court has no authority to deprive the victims of the opioid crisis from suing the Sackler family.”

William Tong, the attorney general of Connecticut, where Purdue Pharma is headquartered, description McMahon’s decision is billed as “a winning earthquake for justice and accountability that will reopen Purdue’s deep bankruptcy and force the Sackler family to confront the pain and devastation they suffered.” have caused.” Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who opposed Purdue’s reorganization, also supported McMahon’s ruling. “There can be no two forms of justice — one for ordinary Americans and the other for billionaires,” said Ferguson. speak. “I’m prepared to take this fight to the Supreme Court, if necessary, to secure real accountability for the Sackler family.”

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