States say OxyContin maker Purdue should not pay bonuses

Attorneys general from 24 states have asked a court to prevent OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma from giving $38 million in employee payouts as it goes through bankruptcy.

Purdue has said it needs to make bonus payments to keep employees and maintain operations at a time of high turnover, which also is requiring the company to provide severance packages for employees heading to the exits.

A government bankruptcy trustee objected to the request last week, and the bankruptcy judge has scheduled an upcoming hearing on the issue. Purdue filed for bankruptcy protection last month as it tries to settle 2,600 lawsuits against it over the toll of the nation’s opioid crisis.