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by prepend 721 days ago
> Thus, in order to go after the Sackler family's money, you basically have to claw back money that Purdue paid out to the family over the years.

Or you can find them personally, directly, criminally liable and their profits the result from a criminal conspiracy.

Personal crimes aren’t protected by the “veil” of LLC, so any assets of the family could be liable, after criminal conviction, for any civil claims from victims.

At least, I think.

2 comments

IANAL, but I don't think this would help the victims (and incidentally, that could have still happened even with the settlement). If there were a criminal lawsuit of the Sacklers, and if that lawsuit was successful, the seized money would just go to the justice department.

The only way the victims actually see any money is through civil litigation.

> the seized money would just go to the justice department

The DoJ operates victims’ funds [1][2].

[1] https://ovc.ojp.gov/about/crime-victims-fund

[2] https://www.justice.gov/enrd/environmental-crime-victim-assi...

I would think civil forfeiture could be used to take all their assets if not then the drug dealers in my town need to each form an LLC.
Well, I don't think civil forfeiture specifically would work, but like I mentioned above, yes, if the justice department wanted to criminally charge the Sacklers, they could possibly win and get a judgement against some of the money. But then that money doesn't really go to the victims - it's just a way to punish the Sacklers.

The bankruptcy settlement had a bunch of money going to families of the victims, and also to the states for anti-addiction programs, and also some money towards documenting the Purdue wrongdoings, so that the public would have better visibility just HOW this was allowed to happen in the first place