Demand Progress

At the center of the Purdue Pharma case in front of the Supreme Court is the question: Can corporations use bankruptcy law to shield their negligent owners from accountability? Clearly, the answer should be no, especially when it comes to the Sacklers fueling the opioid crisis in America. They must be held accountable for their actions.

The Biden administration brought this action against Purdue because of its belief that corporations and wealthy individuals should not be able to abuse the bankruptcy system to avoid liability for their actions.¹

Senator Elizabeth Warren has led the charge to reform bankruptcy law to ban people like the Sacklers from escaping accountability in corporate bankruptcies.²

Sign the petition: Tell Congress to pass bankruptcy reform to help hold the Sacklers accountable for their role in the opioid crisis.

Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, is facing a lawsuit from the Biden administration questioning the legality of a bankruptcy settlement that would shield the Sacklers from lawsuits for fueling the opioid crisis in America.³

This is such an important case, because the Sacklers should NOT be shielded from accountability for fueling the opioid epidemic and ruining so many lives.

This would not even be a case before SCOTUS if Congress passed a law to ensure that wealthy owners and executives can’t evade liability just because the corporation files for bankruptcy. Congress can still act to hold the Sacklers accountable and ensure no other owners and CEOs escape accountability for wrongdoing while in charge of corporations.

Add your name: Congress must reform bankruptcy laws!

Sources:

1. Reuters, “US Supreme Court torn over Purdue Pharma bankruptcy settlement,” December 4, 2023.
2. Wall Street Journal, “Elizabeth Warren Targets Sacklers’ Legal Protection in Purdue Bankruptcy,” July 23, 2021.
3. Reuters, “US Supreme Court torn over Purdue Pharma bankruptcy settlement,” December 4, 2023.