Biography/Memoir

Sacklers lose bid to dismiss charges in Mass. in first test of… family liability

A Massachusetts judge has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that claims members of the Sackler family and the company they own, Purdue Pharma, helped create the nation’s opioid epidemic. In a decision released late Tuesday afternoon (10/9/2019), Suffolk Superior Court Judge Janet Sanders said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has jurisdiction to pursue the 17…

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Biography/Memoir

…pause Sackler suits[?]

Attorneys general for 25 states and lawyers for more than 500 local and tribal governments have asked a judge to let actions against family members move ahead. The company has said that if the Sacklers face litigation across the country, they may not be willing or able to kick in the $3 billion to $4.5…

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Biography/Memoir

Purdue Pharma family profits from sale of resorts in regions plagued by opioid crisis

Richard Sackler did not comment for this story. Family representatives declined to comment publicly. Purdue Pharma, which created vast wealth for the family, filed for bankruptcy Sept. 15.  Some members of the billionaire Sackler family — the owners of Purdue Pharma, the company widely blamed for fueling America’s opioid crisis — will reap about $60…

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Biography/Memoir

After bankruptcy filing, Purdue Pharma… not be off hook

The company and members of the Sackler family, which owns it, expressed sympathy but not responsibility. “Like families across America, we have deep compassion for the victims of the opioid crisis,” family members said in a statement, calling the settlement plan a “historic step towards providing critical resources that address a tragic public health situation.”…

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Biography/Memoir

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma reportedly exploring bankruptcy

Purdue has held discussions to resolve the litigation with plaintiffs’ lawyers, who have often compared the cases to widespread lawsuits against the tobacco industry that resulted in a $246bn settlement in 1998. Purdue and three executives in 2007 pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the misbranding of OxyContin and agreed to pay a total…

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