Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced this week that a significant step in the legal journey concerning Purdue Pharma and the opioid crisis has been reached. All 55 attorneys general from states and U.S. territories have agreed to a historic $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and its founders, the Sackler family. This settlement marks the culmination of prolonged negotiations and legal confrontations, including deliberations as high as the U.S. Supreme Court.
According to Attorney General Tong, the agreement “permanently ends” the Sacklers’ control over Purdue and bars them from participating in the sale of opioids in the future. The settlement requires Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family to contribute $7.4 billion as restitution for their involvement in what has been described as one of the most severe public health crises in American history.
While the settlement represents a significant legal achievement, Tong characterized the outcome as “both momentous and insufficient,” indicating ongoing challenges and dissatisfaction over the broader issues left unresolved by the agreement.