The Department of Justice filed a motion to participate in settlement discussions and a “friend of the court” brief in multidistrict litigation against opioid manufacturers.

The filing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio comes as the department is pursuing separate actions against opioid manufacturers.

“We are determined to see that justice is done in this case,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has told the newly formed Prescription Interdiction and Litigation Task Force to analyze existing lawsuits against opioid manufacturers by state and local governments to offer federal assistance where possible.