Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has announced a $7.4 billion settlement with the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma, resolving their involvement in the opioid crisis. Massachusetts is set to receive up to $108 million from this agreement, pending approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
The settlement aims to end Purdue's control under the Sacklers and prevent them from selling opioids in the United States. The funds will support opioid addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery programs over 15 years. This marks a significant resolution with individuals linked to fueling the opioid epidemic.
AG Campbell stated, "The Sackler family will forever be remembered as a symbol of greed," emphasizing that while lives lost cannot be restored, accountability is crucial. Governor Maura Healey echoed this sentiment, acknowledging Attorney General Campbell's leadership and expressing hope for justice for those affected by Purdue Pharma's actions.
Joanne Peterson of Learn to Cope highlighted transparency gained through this settlement: “With the release of Purdue’s documents... hopefully this will allow us to make sure that nothing like what took place at Purdue ever happens again.”
Funds from the settlement will go towards various stakeholders who previously sued Purdue or its owners. Initial payments include $1.5 billion from the Sacklers and nearly $900 million from Purdue within three years.
Moreover, more than 30 million documents concerning Purdue’s business practices are set for public release if approved. These records include information on FDA approval processes and marketing strategies related to opioids.
Massachusetts was pivotal in pursuing legal action against members of the Sackler family since 2018, accusing them of misleading medical professionals about opioids' addictive nature. This conduct reportedly led to widespread suffering among Massachusetts residents.
The Supreme Court previously invalidated a 2021 bankruptcy settlement that would have granted blanket immunity to the Sacklers; today's agreement offers no such protections but requires securing releases for claims against them.
This new settlement involves eight heirs of Purdue founders Raymond and Mortimer Sackler alongside associated entities. Other states joining Massachusetts in securing this deal include New York, California, Colorado among others.
In Massachusetts, handling these proceedings were several members from AG Campbell’s office including Ethan Marks and Gregory Hardy among others involved across divisions like Health Care Division or Consumer Protection Division ensuring comprehensive coverage throughout negotiations leading up until now following extensive litigation efforts spanning years since initial filings back then onwards until today finally culminating successfully here too overall as well altogether thus far presently now indeed currently still ongoing yet so far successful ultimately conclusively thereby so forth consequently resulting therein eventually concluding favorably thereafter subsequently accordingly henceforth thereafter consequently furthering likewise similarly continuing progressing moving forward advancing developing proceeding expanding evolving growing thriving prospering flourishing maturing achieving accomplishing attaining reaching realizing fulfilling completing culminating resulting 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