Supreme Court blocks Purdue Pharma opioid settlement that shields Sackler family of liability

gettyrf_6222_scotusbldg2028129705753
Ryan McGinnis/Getty Images

(WASHINGTON) — The Supreme Court on Thursday threw out an opioid settlement for Purdue Pharma that would have shielded the Sackler family from criminal liability.

The 5-4 opinion was delivered by Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Under the nationwide settlement deal, the Sacklers would have provided roughly $6 billion to redress harm from opioid addiction and give up ownership of the company. The sum would have been paid out to 138,000 victims and state governments and tribal communities.

But in turn, the family behind OxyContin would’ve received immunity from any future opioid-related lawsuits and retained billions in past profits from drug sales.

Story developing…

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

g_trump_07102521214

How Trump's megabill affects student loans, school choice

Samuel Corum/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending megabill could alter aspects of K-12 and higher education in the coming years, according to education advocates on both sides of the aisle. After a monthslong process

getty_rubiolavrov_071025_0575194

Rubio, Lavrov meet after Russian barrage on Kyiv

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (2nd R) and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2nd L) meet on the margins of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 10, 2025/ Russian FM

news_bedford_7925810933

Senate confirms Bryan Bedford as FAA administrator

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Bryan Bedford as FAA administrator, putting a former airline executive in charge of the agency responsible for ensuring the safety and efficiency of the nation’s air travel.