A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Oct. 11 temporarily halted civil lawsuits against Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, according to The Washington Post.
The ruling from Judge Robert Drain stays action for three weeks in state and federal lawsuits against the drugmaker and its owners. Purdue Pharma had asked for a six-month reprieve.
During the three-week stay, Purdue Pharma agreed to provide state attorneys general more information about the Sackler family's finances.
The drugmaker argued that halting litigation was necessary to allow progress on a tentative settlement with more than 2,600 plaintiffs who have accused Purdue Pharma of fueling the opioid epidemic by hiding the addiction risks of OxyContin.
Purdue Pharma told The Post the judge's decision "is an essential next step in preserving Purdue's assets for the ultimate benefit of the American public. The company will work tirelessly and collaboratively during this pause in the litigation to continue to build support for the settlement structure."