Reaching a deal in national opioids case proving difficult

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma says it wants a national settlement over its role in the opioids epidemic, but getting there is proving difficult.

Sources familiar with negotiations between Purdue, multiple state attorneys general and lawyers representing scores of local governments have said the talks are essentially at a standstill.

The negotiations are complicated by several factors: There are many voices at the table, some attorneys general who prefer putting the company and its controlling family on trial, questions over how a "structured bankruptcy" by Purdue would work, and disagreements over payouts between state and local governments.

It's also uncertain exactly who would need to approve any tentative settlement for it to become final.

In the meantime, the first federal trial over the opioids crisis is six weeks away.