The core record is a U.S. Chapter 11 proceeding involving Mallinckrodt plc and its affiliates. There are two separate cases, and mixing them up is the most common research error. Always confirm the caption, court, case number, and latest docket date against the court record before relying on anything here.
This guide covers where to find the dockets, which filings matter most, how to follow the timeline, and why a docket entry is not individualized legal or settlement advice.
Key Takeaways
- The docket is the chronological record of petitions, motions, orders, plan documents, and notices.
- Mallinckrodt has two Chapter 11 cases: No. 20-12522 (2020) and No. 23-11258 (2023).
- Confirm that an order is signed and entered before relying on it.
- Recovery amounts cannot be read from a docket summary; check the plan, trust, and claim status.
What Is the Mallinckrodt Bankruptcy Docket?
A docket is the clerk's chronological log of everything filed in a case: motions, pleadings, memoranda, orders, and notices. The U.S. Courts glossary describes it the same way. A docket entry is only the log line. The pleading, exhibit, or signed order sits behind it.
Identify the Correct Proceeding
Confirm the debtor name, affiliated debtors, court, chapter, case number, and judge before reading anything.
- 2020 case: In re Mallinckrodt plc, et al., Chapter 11, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, No. 20-12522 (JTD), jointly administered with affiliates. The confirmation opinion is signed by Judge John T. Dorsey.
- 2023 case: In re Mallinckrodt plc, No. 23-11258, a separate filing. Do not merge it into the 2020 chronology.
One claims-agent page names a different judge for the 2020 case than the signed opinion does. For rulings, rely on the court opinion and check the live docket for any reassignment.
Document Categories You'll Encounter
- Petitions, schedules, statements of financial affairs, and first-day motions
- Restructuring support agreements, disclosure statements, plans, ballots, confirmation materials, and objections
- Claims notices, trust materials, distributions, administrative orders, and closing documents
Entries often carry multiple versions or attachments. Open the actual PDF, check whether an order is signed, and compare amended or superseding documents.
Docket Entry vs. Order vs. Summary
A party filing is a request or argument. A court order is what the judge actually decided. A news or law-firm summary is commentary. Only the signed, entered order establishes the ruling.
Mallinckrodt Bankruptcy Timeline and Major Filings
The 2020 Case (No. 20-12522)
- Oct. 11-14, 2020: Restructuring support agreement signed Oct. 11, Chapter 11 petition filed Oct. 12, first-day motions approved Oct. 14.
- June 18, 2021: Joint plan filed.
- Nov. 2021 to Jan. 2022: Confirmation hearings over 16 days; Fourth Amended Plan filed Jan. 6, 2022.
- Mar. 2, 2022: Confirmation order filed.
- June 16, 2022: Plan effective and consummated.
The confirmation opinion describes pre-filing context, including a March 2020 CMS judgment of roughly $650 million and a $260 million federal and state Acthar settlement.
It also describes opioid settlement trusts funded by $1.6 billion in structured cash payments, plus a later $125 million contribution. These are plan and settlement terms, not any claimant's payment, and not the total value of all claims.
Keep reported allegations, settlements, and court-approved outcomes separate when you read the record.
The 2023 Case (No. 23-11258)
- Aug. 23, 2023: Restructuring support agreement dated.
- Aug. 28, 2023: Chapter 11 petition filed.
- Oct. 10, 2023: Plan confirmed.
- Nov. 14, 2023: Plan effective.
Do not confuse this effective date with the 2022 one.
The Third-Party Release Issue
The 2020 plan contained several kinds of releases:
- Releases by the debtors
- Releases involving non-debtor third parties
- Opt-out releases for certain classes
- Non-consensual opioid releases for opioid claimant classes
The bankruptcy court found these appropriate under the Third Circuit law then applied. Not every class had identical terms, so avoid implying every claimant was affected the same way.
In Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P., decided June 27, 2024, the Supreme Court held that the Bankruptcy Code does not authorize a plan to release claims against a non-debtor without the claimant's consent.
It did not define consent, and it expressly did not address plans already implemented. Mallinckrodt's 2020 plan took effect in 2022. Check later docket entries rather than assuming Purdue erased or preserved those releases.
Post-Confirmation Filings to Research
- Distribution notices and trust or administrator updates
- Claim reconciliation and reserve matters
- Professional-fee applications
- Appeals and final case administration
Claims agent records show affiliate cases closed by order dated May 3, 2023 (2020 case) and Dec. 7, 2023 (2023 case). Lead-case status needs a live docket check.
How to Find and Read Mallinckrodt Docket Documents
Step-by-Step Workflow
- Search the verified case number (20-12522 or 23-11258) in PACER, the federal judiciary's record service.
- Confirm the debtor entities match the case you want.
- Sort by filing date to follow the chronology.
- Open the full entry and attachments, not just the title.
- Cross-check against the Kroll restructuring administration pages, which host many docket documents.
PACER charges $0.10 per page, capped at $3 per document, and waives quarterly fees of $30 or less, per PACER's pricing guidance. Court opinions are free.
Search Terms That Work
Useful terms include:
- Confirmation order
- Plan and disclosure statement
- Third-party release
- Claims, settlement, and distribution
- Effective date, appeal, and final decree
Terminology varies across filings, so try synonyms when a first pass comes up empty.
Fields to Capture From Every Entry
- Docket number and filing date
- Filer and document title
- Hearing date and response deadline
- Order status (proposed, interim, entered, amended)
- Referenced exhibits and any superseding filing
Validating a Reported Update
- Compare the news article with the underlying filed document.
- Check whether it is a proposed order, an entered order, or a notice of an event.
- Look for later entries that modify, clarify, stay, reverse, or implement the decision.
An indexed hearing notice does not prove the hearing took place.
Monitoring Tools
BankruptcyData offers a research and monitoring platform covering court documents, docket monitoring and alerts, case timelines, and historical outcomes. It supports research workflows but is not a substitute for counsel. Enterprise users can also license datasets, API feeds, and MCP-based AI assistant integrations for larger research and automation workflows.
Which Mallinckrodt Filings Matter Most to Different Readers?
| Reader | Prioritize |
|---|---|
| Attorneys | Petition, first-day motions, plan, disclosure statement, confirmation order, release provisions, objections, appeals |
| Distressed-debt investors and lenders | Restructuring support agreements, creditor classes, plan recoveries, claims reconciliation, distributions |
| Suppliers, insurers, credit teams | Bar-date notices, proofs of claim, assumption or rejection notices, administrative claims procedures |
| Individual claimants | Plan, trust materials, claim-status notices, administrator communications |
| Researchers and data teams | Case identifiers, dates, document types, parties, outcomes |
Investors should use docket-supported figures only. Trade creditors should watch bar dates, since a bar date is the last day to file a claim.
Individual opioid or Acthar claimants should know that general docket entries do not establish eligibility or payment. The Mallinckrodt Opioid Personal Injury Trust runs a separate process with distinct forms for NAS and non-NAS claims.
The Trust reported about 37,000 claims received as of April 24, 2025, and listed a June 15, 2025 deadline for non-future, non-NAS personal-injury claims. Check the Trust's current instructions for your claim type. Form B410 is a general proof of claim and does not replace the Trust's forms.
Researchers should log identifiers consistently so the case compares cleanly with other Chapter 11 proceedings.
Why the Mallinckrodt Docket Matters
The docket traces a company moving from litigation burden to court-supervised restructuring and plan implementation, twice. A headline rarely captures that.
Close reading reveals:
- Changes in creditor treatment between plan versions
- Deadlines, objections, and settlement conditions
- Claim procedures and distribution mechanics
- Unresolved post-confirmation issues
Third-party releases matter to creditors, claimants, non-debtor parties, and future Chapter 11 practice. Their enforceability depends on the governing court, later appellate decisions, and exact plan language.
A docket entry is not necessarily a final ruling, a payment promise, or proof that a lawsuit has ended. Verify the operative order, and get qualified legal or financial advice for your own situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the latest update on the Mallinckrodt lawsuit?
It depends on the specific lawsuit, claim, appeal, or post-confirmation matter. Check the most recent relevant docket entry, court order, or Trust notice, and note its date.
How much will I get from Mallinckrodt Settlement?
Recovery depends on claim type, eligibility, allowed amount, trust terms, distribution rules, and available funds. No estimate is possible without claim-specific documentation.
Is Mallinckrodt still a company?
A corporate entity can continue operating separately from its bankruptcy case. Mallinckrodt and Endo announced their merger on July 31, 2025, and SEC filings now identify Keenova Therapeutics plc. Verify current SEC and court records.
Where can I find the Mallinckrodt bankruptcy docket?
Use PACER with case number 20-12522 or 23-11258, or the Kroll restructuring administration pages. Confirm the debtor entities and document date.
What was the outcome of the Mallinckrodt bankruptcy case?
The 2020 plan was confirmed March 2, 2022, and took effect June 16, 2022. A second plan was confirmed Oct. 10, 2023, effective Nov. 14, 2023. Review the confirmation orders, plans, and any later appellate developments.
