U.S. Supreme Court rejects national opioid settlement with Purdue Pharma

In a five to four vote, it struck down a controversial settlement for Oxycontin maker Purdue Pharma. The agreement would have provided billions of dollars to combat the opioid epidemic and help its victims. But the deal also shielded the family who owns the company, the Sacklers, from future lawsuits lawsuits. The Sacklers had agreed to pay $6 billion in exchange for sweeping protections and the ability to restructure the company. the US government challenged the deal, arguing shielding the family, which made a fortune off opioids, was a misuse of the system. The Sackler family says they will continue to push for a settlement, claiming the alternative would be, in their words, costly and chaotic legal proceedings in courtrooms across the country. And the US Supreme Court has also dismissed an appeal from Idaho on its strict abortion law, meaning a lower court ruling that allows doctors in the state to perform abortions in emergency situations remains in effect for now. Justice is also blocked an environmental regulation aimed at curbing harmful air pollution that crosses American state lines.