Month: July 2021

Senators Look To Close Bankruptcy Loophole

WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the Stop Shielding Assets from Corporate Known Liability by Eliminating Non-Debtor Releases (SACKLER) Act, which would close a loophole in current law that allows individuals who have engaged in wrongdoing to evade accountability through bankruptcy proceedings. The SACKLER Act would restrict the use of a loophole in bankruptcy law that currently allows individuals who have not filed for bankruptcy to nonetheless be released from lawsuits brought by states, Tribes, municipalities, or the U.S. government.

While far from bankrupt and worth nearly $11 billion, the Sackler family – owners of Purdue Pharma – is exploiting this loophole in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings to seek a lifetime legal shield from liability. The proposed Purdue bankruptcy plan, which Connecticut has strongly objected to, would require the Sacklers to pay over nine years only a small fraction of the massive fortune that they amassed through the sale of opioids.

“This legislation to close an unfair, unacceptable loophole in the bankruptcy code would remove one of the barriers preventing the Sacklers from being held accountable,” said Blumenthal. “The Sackler family wants to deny the victims justice by being given a lifetime legal shield that is absolutely unjust. Bankruptcy should not be a haven for people who owe accountability – a haven from justice.”

“We must close these dangerous loopholes that have allowed the bankruptcy system to unfairly protect wealthy individuals, like members of the Sackler family, from government-led lawsuits,” said Warren.

The legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives in March by U.S. Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), and sixty-two of their colleagues.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were nearly 500,000 deaths between 1999 and 2019, and 93,000 deaths in 2020 alone involving opioid and prescription overdoses, of which Purdue greatly contributed to. The company has pled guilty to multiple federal crimes and is facing thousands of lawsuits for its deceptive marketing practices and its role in the epidemic.

Blumenthal announced the legislation today with Connecticut Attorney General William Tong who will testify before the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law this week on this proposal and others to reform bankruptcy law.

Earlier today, Blumenthal also led a group of his colleagues in a letter to a judge for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern  District of New York, urging the court to reject Purdue Pharma’s request to include employee and executive bonuses in the bankruptcy reorganization plan.

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Trumbull News: MEN ARRESTED AFTER POLICE VEHICLES STRUCK AT TRUMBULL MALL

#Trumbull CT–Three (3) Bridgeport men were arrested Monday afternoon, July 26th, following their
involvement in occupying a stolen vehicle, and crashing into several police vehicles as it
attempted to flee police at the Westfield Trumbull Mall. Dominique Reid, age 23, of
Summitt Street, fled in the stolen Audi to avoid immediate capture, however, Hector
Delgado, age 24, of Clifford Street, and Xavier Rondon, age 29, of Benhan Avenue were
immediately taken into police custody in the Westfield Mall parking lot.

Trumbull Police Detectives initially located the Audi, which had been confirmed stolen
from Yonkers, New York, in the mall parking lot. Trumbull police personnel then set up
surveillance on the vehicle, until about 2:30 p.m., when the men returned and entered
the Audi. As officers approached the occupied Audi, Delgado and Rondon were
apprehended, but Reid remained inside the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Reid then sped
away striking several police and innocent bystander vehicles to elude capture.

Reid continued to drive recklessly through Westfield Mall property, and leaving mall
property by traveling the wrong way up the Main Street entrance ramp. Reid eventually
proceeded onto the Merritt Parkway (Route 15) northbound entrance ramp, but as he
merged onto the Merritt Parkway, he turned the vehicle and traveled Southerly into
oncoming traffic in the northbound lane. After a short distance, Reid abandoned the
stolen Audi and continued to flee police on foot, but was later captured in a nearby
residential neighborhood.


Trumbull Police K9 and the Connecticut State Police also assisted in tracking Reid. No
injuries were reported for the accidents. Trumbull EMS did respond as a precautionary
measure to evaluate Reid for exhaustion, but he refused any medical treatment.
Reid was charged with Larceny 1st degree, Reckless Driving, Engaging Police in Pursuit,
Evading Motor Vehicle Accident, Reckless Endangerment 1st degree, interfering with an
Officer, and was held on a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport
Superior Court on August 6, 2021.
Both Delgado and Rondon were each charged with Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 1st
degree, and were each held on a $25,000 bond. They are also scheduled to appear in
Bridgeport Superior Court on August 6, 2021.

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Shelton News: Fatal Motorcycle Accident

2021-07-27@2:20pm–#Shelton CT– Shelton Police, Shelton Fire and EMS were
dispatched to the Derby/Shelton Bridge for an accident involving a vehicle and a
motorcycle. The preliminary investigation by police revealed that the driver of the
motorcycle was traveling on the Derby/Shelton Bridge headed into downtown Shelton
and the driver of the vehicle was on Riverside Drive headed towards Bridge St when the
accident occurred.


The operator of the motorcycle, 60 year old David Guliuzza of Derby, was transported to
the hospital and was later pronounced deceased. The operator of the vehicle, 65 year old
Donald Wolanin of Shelton, did not claim any injuries.
The Shelton Police Traffic Division Reconstruction Team is currently investigating this
accident. No enforcement action has been taken at this time. Any witnesses or persons
with additional information may call the Shelton Police Traffic Division at (203) 924-
1544.

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Bear 211 Has Passed

I am really sorry to report that the famous Bear 211 has died. Bear 211 he was identified roamed between New York and Connecticut with such a flair and personality that he got his own Facebook Page. He was smarter than the average bear but was not faster than a car when he was hit by a car in Easton yesterday, July 26th on Route 136 near Wilson Road by a hit and run driver. You will be missed Bear 211.

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