Judge Agrees To Halt Lawsuits Against Purdue Pharma

(AP) – A judge has said he will halt lawsuits against Purdue Pharma and its owners for six months in hopes of finalizing a settlement over the OxyContin maker’s role in the national opioid crisis.  In  a hearing Friday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain strongly brushed aside the argument from a group of state attorneys general that lawsuits against members of the wealthy Sackler family  would be essential to getting accountability in the case.  His decision does not mean that a tentative settlement struck between the company and about half the states would become a final agreement.  Drain says he is looking for input from states on the terms of pressing pause on the lawsuits.