Articles + Publications December 19, 2022

Purdue Pharma and the Nonconsensual Release of Direct Claims Against Non-Debtors

Norton Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law

Written by

David S. Kupetz

Los Angeles Locke Lord Partner David Kupetz authored an article in the Norton Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law outlining the high-profile appellate decision vacating Purdue Pharma’s confirmed Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan of reorganization and discusses whether a bankruptcy court (or any other court) has statutory authority to grant non-consensual releases of third-party claims against non-debtors. Kupetz notes the Circuit Courts have been split for decades on the question of the validity of nonconsensual non-debtor releases under a Chapter 11 plan.

“Both the Purdue Pharma and Mahwah decisions vacated bankruptcy court plan confirmation orders imposing nonconsensual non-debtor releases, but for different reasons,” Kupetz adds. “While Purdue Pharma was based on a lack of statutory authority, Mahwah focused on constitutional defects, including a lack of due process in purporting to obtain consent to third-party releases.”

Read Kupetz’s article in the Norton Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law.

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