Judge grants request from Sackler family owners of opioid maker Purdue Pharma to halt civil lawsuits

Source: Washington Post

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Friday temporarily halted scores of lawsuits against Purdue Pharma, and its owners, the Sackler family, a request opposed by states who say the family siphoned billions in profits from the company.

Extending that relief to the Sacklers, who haven’t filed for bankruptcy protection, is “extraordinary” but appropriate in this case, Judge Robert Drain said from the bench. Drain’s ruling stays action for three weeks in state and federal lawsuits against the Sackler family members, who own the company, as well as Purdue Pharma and related companies.

During the three-week reprieve, Purdue Pharma agreed to address one of the key concerns raised by attorneys general who objected to including the Sacklers in the temporary injunction: Access to more information about the family’s finances. We are disappointed by the court’s ruling, but pleased that it is limited in time to less than 30 days. We will use this time to ensure that we get access to the Sacklers’ financial information,” Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in a statement.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who also objected to including the Sacklers in the injunction, said: “We’re pleased with the court’s desire for transparency and its recognition of the public’s need to know the facts that led to this national epidemic. We look forward to further proceedings and holding the Sacklers responsible for the role they played in the opioid crisis.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/11/judge-grants-request-sackler-family-owners-opioid-maker-purdue-pharma-halt-civil-lawsuits/