Purdue Pharma sentencing delayed

The sentencing of Purdue Pharma marks a critical moment in the legal fallout from the American opioid epidemic.

Judge Esther Salas ruled that the voices of the victims must be heard directly in court, rather than through submitted statements alone.

The company has pleaded guilty to charges related to its aggressive marketing of painkillers, which critics say fueled a national health crisis.

While a multibillion-dollar settlement has been proposed, many victims argue that no amount of money can compensate for the lives lost and communities devastated by the drug.