Lawyers appear in court for lawsuit against OxyContin maker

EVERETT – After the makers of the prescription opioid OxyContin filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against them, lawyers for the city of Everett are expected in U.S. District Court Monday to defend the merits of its case.

The Daily Herald reported that Purdue Pharma is asking a federal judge in Seattle to toss the city’s lawsuit before it goes to trial. Everett’s lawyers say Purdue’s motion should be denied.

The city’s lawsuit claims the pharmaceutical company knew its prescription painkiller was being funneled into the black market and that its business practices helped create an opioid epidemic.

Lawyers representing the company say the city’s claims are based on a false theory that Purdue did nothing to alert law enforcement to the pills’ diversion.

The city of Tacoma last week sued Purdue Pharma and two other opioid manufacturers, Endo Health Solutions and Janssen Pharmaceuticals.