Pharma Archives

Opioid Addiction Litigation 2026: The New Post-Mega-Settlements Normal, Why Tribal Claims Are Central, and a Federal Pullback on Treatment Programs

Opioid litigation has entered a new phase defined less by courtroom trials and more by long-term settlement governance, tribal sovereignty, and evolving bankruptcy law. National opioid settlements now fund abatement through strict reporting and multi-year payment schedules, while Tribal Nations administer parallel sovereign recovery systems. At the same time, the Supreme Court’s Harrington v. Purdue Pharma decision has reshaped how mass-tort bankruptcies resolve claims. Yet as litigation-driven funding stabilizes, federal support for addiction treatment and overdose prevention faces deep cuts and growing uncertainty. Together, these developments show opioid litigation moving into a complex era where courts, settlements, and public policy intersect.

Purdue Oxy Settlement Offer Greeted With WTH

March 16th, 2021|Categories: Class Actions, HB Tort Notes|Tags: Drug Laws, Pharma|

Company Offers to "Pay" Part of Settlement with Addiction Pharmaceuticals While the Sackler family has upped the ante, the settlement is met with some groans and skepticism. Jessica Hartogs, Editor at LinkedIn News: "Purdue Pharma has offered up a $10 billion restructuring plan that would pay $500 million up front to settle approximately 135,000 claims linked to the company's role in the opioid epidemic. The Sackler family would pay more than $4 billion over a decade and also give up domestic ownership of the company, which is alleged to have fueled the deadly national opioid crisis with its OxyContin drug. They would also admit no wrongdoing. Two dozen state attorneys general immediately rejected the plan, reported NPR." Charlie Kingdollar, Retired Emerging Issues Officer at Gen Re: Members of the Sackler family offered roughly $4.3 billion to resolve sprawling opioid litigation, up from $3 billion initially proposed in settlement discussions. Siladitya Ray, Staff Writer, Forbes: "The new settlement plan put forth by the Sacklers is $1.3 billion higher than their original offer and if approved it will be used to reimburse states, local governments, Native American tribes and other plaintiffs who have successfully sued Purdue for its role in fueling the opioid crisis... As part of the proposal, the $4.28 billion from the Sacklers will be paid in installments over [...]