No. 23-124October Term 2023Decided Jun 27, 2024
Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P.
The Supreme Court considered whether a bankruptcy court can approve a Chapter 11 reorganization plan that releases legal claims against non-debtor third parties, specifically the Sackler family owners of Purdue Pharma, without the consent of the claimants.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 27, 2024
- What it's about
The Supreme Court considered whether a bankruptcy court can approve a Chapter 11 reorganization plan that releases legal claims against non-debtor third parties, specifically the Sackler family owners of Purdue Pharma, without the consent of the claimants. In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that the Bankruptcy Code does not authorize such nonconsensual third-party releases.
Question presented
Does the Bankruptcy Code authorize a court to approve, as part of a plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, a release that extinguishes claims held by non-debtors against non-debtor third parties, without the claimants’ consent?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / Decision released Jun 27, 2024
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided June 27, 2024
The Court released its decision 206 days after oral argument on December 4, 2023. The median for cases argued in December is 148 days.
Documents
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Mar 30, 2026
- Method
- Methodology
Primary materials8
Supreme Court docket 23-124
docket | Mar 30, 2026
Primary case document
Supreme Court document | Mar 30, 2026
CourtListener docket record
docket | Mar 30, 2026
Questions Presented
brief | Mar 8, 2026
Harrington
opinion | Jun 27, 2024
opinion
opinion | Jun 27, 2024
Reply
brief | Aug 7, 2023
Lower Court Orders/Opinions
order | Jul 28, 2023