Sackler family will not settle without liability shields in opioid suit
Purdue Pharma’s Sackler family accused of fuelling the US opioid crisis
17 August 2021 - 22:41
byMaria Chutchian
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A member of the Sackler family that owns Purdue Pharma testified on Tuesday that his family bears a “moral responsibility” to help abate the US opioid crisis but said it will not contribute financially to the effort unless it receives broad legal protections.
The long-awaited bankruptcy trial of the OxyContin maker started last week to resolve thousands of claims, accusing it and the Sackler family of fuelling the US opioid crisis.
Purdue and its Sackler family owners have denied wrongdoing in connection with the lawsuits.
More than 500,000 Americans have died since 1999 from opioid overdoses, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
David Sackler, a former Purdue director, made his statement during the virtual trial in a White Plains, New York, bankruptcy court over a $10bn settlement that aims to resolve the lawsuits over deceptive marketing.
Sackler said Purdue’s products have helped millions of people. But he acknowledged that they had contributed to the opioid crisis and said his family bears “a moral responsibility to help, and that’s what this settlement is designed to do”.
The deal is supported by a wide range of states, municipalities, hospitals and others, but faces opposition from nine states and the US department of justice’s bankruptcy watchdog, the US trustee.
The settlement includes releases protecting the Sackler family members that own Purdue against future opioid-related litigation in exchange for a $4.5bn contribution to a trust that would distribute funds to opioid abatement programmes. Opponents of the deal say the releases are too broad.
In response to questioning from US trustee attorney Benjamin Higgins on Tuesday, Sackler said his family would not be willing to contribute money “in this fashion” towards opioid abatement if the bankruptcy court rejects the releases.
Sackler also said his family had not considered an amount of money it would pay in exchange for narrower releases.
The trial is expected to last several more days. Sackler is the only member of the family so far to testify.
Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty in November 2020 to fraud and kickback charges.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Sackler family will not settle without liability shields in opioid suit
Purdue Pharma’s Sackler family accused of fuelling the US opioid crisis
A member of the Sackler family that owns Purdue Pharma testified on Tuesday that his family bears a “moral responsibility” to help abate the US opioid crisis but said it will not contribute financially to the effort unless it receives broad legal protections.
The long-awaited bankruptcy trial of the OxyContin maker started last week to resolve thousands of claims, accusing it and the Sackler family of fuelling the US opioid crisis.
Purdue and its Sackler family owners have denied wrongdoing in connection with the lawsuits.
More than 500,000 Americans have died since 1999 from opioid overdoses, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
David Sackler, a former Purdue director, made his statement during the virtual trial in a White Plains, New York, bankruptcy court over a $10bn settlement that aims to resolve the lawsuits over deceptive marketing.
Sackler said Purdue’s products have helped millions of people. But he acknowledged that they had contributed to the opioid crisis and said his family bears “a moral responsibility to help, and that’s what this settlement is designed to do”.
The deal is supported by a wide range of states, municipalities, hospitals and others, but faces opposition from nine states and the US department of justice’s bankruptcy watchdog, the US trustee.
The settlement includes releases protecting the Sackler family members that own Purdue against future opioid-related litigation in exchange for a $4.5bn contribution to a trust that would distribute funds to opioid abatement programmes. Opponents of the deal say the releases are too broad.
In response to questioning from US trustee attorney Benjamin Higgins on Tuesday, Sackler said his family would not be willing to contribute money “in this fashion” towards opioid abatement if the bankruptcy court rejects the releases.
Sackler also said his family had not considered an amount of money it would pay in exchange for narrower releases.
The trial is expected to last several more days. Sackler is the only member of the family so far to testify.
Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty in November 2020 to fraud and kickback charges.
Reuters
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