A federal bankruptcy judge will soon decide whether to approve a nearly $7.4 billion settlement involving Purdue Pharma, which made the pain medication OxyContin. Scott MacFarlane looks at the potential impact of what would be a landmark deal.

A judge intends to rule this week on a plan for local governments and individual victims to vote on OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma’s plan to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids.

Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family to pay $7.4 billion in a settlement over opioid crisis, with $21 million for the District.