Sacklers threaten to walk away from Purdue opioid settlement as anger builds over immunity provisions — report
Purdue Pharma has been negotiating with the government for months over how much it should owe for its role in the opioid crisis, in a plan that’s seen the company declare bankruptcy and plead guilty to three criminal charges.
But the wealthy Sacklers who own Purdue are now reportedly threatening to walk away from the deal should a broad legal shield protecting the family be dropped.
In what’s believed to be the first-ever courtroom appearance from a member of the Sacklers in an opioid case, former board member David Sackler told the bankruptcy court Tuesday the family would not support any deal that doesn’t include an expansive immunity provision protecting individual Sacklers from liability associated with opioid lawsuits, the New York Times reported. The immunity provision has emerged as a contentious issue in the trial, with critics assailing the proposed deal as not going far enough to get justice for those affected by the opioid epidemic.
Unlock this article instantly by becoming a free subscriber.
You’ll get access to free articles each month, plus you can customize what newsletters get delivered to your inbox each week, including breaking news.