In a 5-4 decision, justices blocked an agreement with victims and state and local governments
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a nationwide settlement with oxycodone hydrochloride (OxyContin) maker Purdue Pharma that would have shielded members of the Sackler family who own the company from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids but also would have provided billions of dollars to combat the opioid epidemic.
After deliberating over the case (Harrington v. Purdue Pharma) for more than 6 months, the justices in a 5-4 voteo blocked an agreement hammered out with state and local governments and victims. The Sacklers would have contributed up to $6 billion and given up ownership of the company, but would have retained billions more. The agreement provided that the company would emerge from bankruptcy as a different entity, with its profits used for treatment and prevention.
Tags: Civil Lawsuit Opioid Crisis Oxycodone Settlement
