Florida Attorney General’s Office Secures $7.4 Billion from Purdue Pharma and the Sackler Family for Fueling the Opioid Crisis

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-The Florida Attorney General's Office today announced that, following Florida-led efforts, a $7.4 billion multistate settlement has been reached with members of the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma, Inc. for their instrumental role in creating the opioid crisis. Purdue, under the Sacklers' leadership, invented, manufactured and aggressively marketed opioid products for decades, fueling waves of addiction and overdose deaths across the country. The settlement ends the Sacklers' control of Purdue and ability to sell opioids in the United States, and it will deliver funding directly to communities across the country over the next 15 years to support opioid addiction treatment, prevention and recovery programs.

The multibillion-dollar settlement in principle, the nation's largest to date with individuals responsible for contributing to the opioid crisis, comes after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned a prior multistate settlement with the Sacklers and Purdue in June 2024. Florida's share of the plan and settlement should amount to between $233.37-$325.93 million, increasing Florida's total opioid recoveries to potentially more than $3.4 billion. Acting Attorney General John Guard was one of the chief negotiators of this agreement in principle, with support from Governor Ron DeSantis and former Attorney General Ashley Moody.

Acting Attorney General John Guard said, "The Biden Department of Justice recklessly destroyed the original deal that Florida and others negotiated. Despite that, the States and other claimants were able to renegotiate what may be one of the most complicated deals ever with the Sackler family and other claimant groups. The original deal and this new agreement in principle would not have been possible, but for now-Senator Moody's dogged determination to hold all those responsible for the opioid crisis accountable and strong support from Governor DeSantis. Because of their leadership and the resources that we have obtained and that are now being spent, the staggering number of deaths in Florida from opioids is decreasing. I am glad that they allowed me to use my background and experience to reach this agreement in principle. In the coming months, this agreement will be finalized, and states, subdivisions and other claimants will have the opportunity to join this deal."

In 2021, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved a multistate settlement covering Purdue and the Sackler family that would have required them to pay more than $5.5 billion. In June 2024, SCOTUS invalidated the previous bankruptcy settlement with the Sacklers, holding that they were not entitled to a blanket or automatic shield from liability. The current settlement in principle does not offer the Sacklers any such automatic protection, but rather is built on consensual releases in exchange for the payments the Sacklers will be making.

In addition to delivering $7.4 billion to address the opioid crisis, the settlement reflects the end of the Sacklers' control of Purdue and bars the family from selling opioids in the United States. A board of trustees selected by participating states in consultation with the other creditors will determine the future of the company. Purdue will continue to be overseen by a monitor and will be prevented from lobbying or marketing opioids under the settlement.

If approved, the settlement will make public more than 30 million documents related to Purdue and the Sacklers' opioid business. The document repository will now also contain documents relating to compliance with the 2007 State Attorneys General Consent Judgments, and after six years will make public documents subject to the waiver of privilege.

Members of the Sackler family included in the settlement in principle include the eight heirs of Purdue founders, Raymond and Mortimer Sackler, who served on the Board of Purdue: Richard, Kathe, Mortimer Jr., Ilene, David and Theresa Sackler; and the estates of Jonathan and Beverly Sackler. In addition, their associated trusts, advisers and most of their children and heirs are also included.

Florida is joined by the following states in the coalition securing the settlement: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

In addition to this latest agreement, Florida secured more than $3 billion from opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies for their role in facilitating the opioid crisis through a historic litigation effort. This includes companies like McKesson, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, and Johnson & Johnson. The funds from these settlements are being used to combat the opioid crisis, including fentanyl, through treatment, prevention, and recovery efforts in Florida and across the nation.

The amount payable to Florida through this most recent action will vary depending on how many claimants agree to the final deal.

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