Supreme Court Rejects Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement in Major Blow to Sackler Family

The Supreme Court rejected a settlement with OxyContin manufacturer Purdue Pharma that would have shielded the Sackler family from legal liability for the company’s role in exacerbating the disastrous opioid crisis.

The Supreme Court released the 5-4 decision Thursday morning, ruling that a bankruptcy judge did not have the authority to release the Sackler family from litigation filed by opioid victims. As part of the proposed deal, the family had agreed to give up ownership of the company and pay as much as $6 billion to settle opioid-related claims in exchange for...