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# DoJ Seeking $13 Billion for OxyContin Claims: Report
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/doj-seeking-13-billion-for-oxycontin-claims-report/
- Published: 2020-08-05T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T16:24:01.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5147363

The Justice Department is pursuing claims against Purdue Pharma worth nearly $13 billion in penalties, after finding evidence of criminal and civil misconduct in the company’s alleged role in fueling the opioid crisis in the U.S. Reuters reports in an exclusive [story](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-purdue-pharma-investigations-opioids/exclusive-u-s-pursues-nearly-13-billion-of-claims-in-purdue-pharma-opioid-probes-sources-say-idUSKCN251001?ref=fdaweb.com) that the details of the government’s opening position were in papers filed last week with a New York federal bankruptcy court that remain sealed. Reuters based its story on information from “people familiar with the matter.”

The report says the fine of more than $6 billion, forfeiture of more than $3 billion, and civil penalty of nearly $3 billion the department is seeking represents the upper limit of penalties federal prosecutors could seek. The news service’s sources say the sums ultimately paid to resolve the investigations are likely to be much lower.

The Justice Department is among thousands of creditors trying to get money from Purdue, which has a liquidation value of only a bit more than $2 billion, Reuters says. Purdue has offered to settle widespread opioid litigation in a deal it says is worth more than $10 billion.

The company filed for bankruptcy protection nearly a year ago and gained court approval to halt more than 2,600 lawsuits brought by cities, counties, states, hospitals, and other plaintiffs alleging the company and its owners, the Sackler family, were major contributors to the opioid epidemic. The company and family have denied the allegations.