DOJ Is Appealing Purdue Settlement, Delaying Payout, Lawyer Says

The US Department of Justice intends to appeal Purdue Pharma LP’s opioid settlement to the Supreme Court, an effort that could further delay payments to victims, a lawyer representing the drugmaker said on Thursday.

The Supreme Court could decide whether to consider the appeal in late October or early November, said Marshall Huebner, an attorney for Purdue. The Justice Department earlier this month asked a federal appeals court to pause its approval of a $6 billion settlement between Purdue, its Sackler family owners, and victims of opioids.

Payments could be further delayed by Purdue’s 2020 deal to ...