Supreme Court erases shield protecting Sackler family from liability for opioid crisis

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a national settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that had protected Sackler family members from future lawsuits.

In a 5-4 decision, the majority ruled that federal bankruptcy code does not allow a liability shield for third parties in bankruptcy agreements.

It affects a provision at the center of the $6 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma that gave money to deal with the opioid epidemic, and in exchange put in place a shield protecting Sackler family members from further lawsuits.