REUTERS/George Frey/File PhotoNEW YORK, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Oxycontin maker Purdue Pharma on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reject the U.S. Department of Justice's request to delay its multi-billion-dollar bankruptcy settlement resolving thousands of lawsuits against it over the opioid epidemic.
The department's bankruptcy watchdog last week asked the Supreme Court to pause the settlement, which would shield the company's Sackler family owners from opioid lawsuits in exchange for a $6 billion contribution to a broader settlement with states, local governments and victims of addiction.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) asked the high court to put the deal on hold after a federal appeals court rejected a proposed delay.
That position was echoed by a group representing 60,000 people who have filed personal injury opioid claims in Purdue's bankruptcy.
Similar lawsuits related to the U.S. opioid crisis have resulted in more than $50 billion in settlements with manufacturers, drug distributors and pharmacy chains.
Persons:
George Frey, Sackler, Purdue's, OxyContin, Dietrich Knauth, Grant McCool
Organizations:
Purdue Pharma, REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, U.S . Department, of Justice, Purdue, Thomson
Locations:
Provo , Utah, U.S, Purdue's