Divided high court hears challenge to $6 billion Purdue opioid settlement

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court appeared divided on Monday as it heard a challenge to Purdue Pharma's $6 billion opioids settlement immunizing the Sackler family that controlled the drugmaker from future litigation.

The Justice Department is arguing that the Sacklers, who earned tens of billions of dollars flooding the country with highly addictive opioids, should not gain sweeping legal protection in the controversial deal. Last year's agreement, which came after years of negotiations involving officials from all 50 U.S.states, set aside $6 billion from the 2019 bankruptcy of Purdue, w...