Department of Justice Seeks Greater Role in Opioid Lawsuit Settlement
As legal battles over opioid drugs slowly move through the courts, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is getting involved by asking for permission to help settle disputes.
The DOJ filed a motion to participate in settlement discussions as a “friend of the court,” which enables them to provide information and expertise to assist judges in reaching verdicts. This filing comes about a month after the DOJ formed a task force to target opioid manufacturers and distributors for the roles they’ve allegedly played in the increase of addiction in the U.S. The DOJ intends to use criminal and civil penalties if people are convicted of adding to the crisis.
