The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a nationwide settlement with Purdue Pharma that would have shielded members of the Sackler family from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids but also provided billions to combat the epidemic.
Justices in a 5-4 vote blocked the agreement under which the Sacklers would contribute up to $6 billion, give up ownership, but retain billions, leading to the company emerging as a different entity for treatment.
Justice Neil Gorsuch stated that 'nothing in present law authorizes the Sackler discharge,' while dissenting Justice Brett Kavanaugh called the decision 'devastating for over 100,000 opioid victims and their families.'
The Purdue Pharma settlement would have been among the largest resolving epidemic-related lawsuits. It was the second to involve direct payments to victims, ranging from $3,500 to $48,000 from a $750 million pool.
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