Three doctors — brothers Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond Sackler founded Purdue Pharma L.P., in 1952 after taking over a struggling New York drug manufacturer. The company managed to remain under the radar until the mid-1990s when it began to sell OxyContin, a long-lasting, narcotic pain reliever. Purdue Pharma has killed over 430,000 people in the U.S. over the past two decades.
On September 15th and 16th, Purdue Pharma and its subsidiaries, each filed for bankruptcy under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York. The cases are now pending before the Honorable Robert D. Draine and are administered under Case No. 19-23649. Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy as part of a tentative settlement in the case central to the country’s opioid crisis. As part of a stipulation, Purdue Pharma launched a $23.8 million ad campaign to educate victims where to file claims if they have been affected or harmed by the opioid. Click here for more information on how to file a claim.
Richard Farmer, an 83-year-old Tennessee doctor was found guilty of three counts of distribution of controlled substances outside of the scope of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. “Opioid misuse and abuse is an insidious epidemic, created in large part but the over-prescribing and diversion of potent opioids,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant of the Western District of Tennessee. “This guilty verdict demonstrates our resolve to aggressively prosecute medical personnel who misuse their position to trust to exploit the very people coming to them for help.” Farmer’s sentencing is scheduled for May 22.
If you believe you have been injured by Purdue or Purdue prescription opioids, like OxyContin or other prescription opioids produced, marketed or sold by Purdue, you can file a claim for compensation. Go to purduepharmaclaims.com for more information regarding the bankruptcy and how to file a claim.
