OxyContin Maker Asks Judge to Toss Case Brought by City

SEATTLE (AP) — The maker of the pain medication OxyContin has asked a federal judge in Seattle to throw out a Washington city's lawsuit seeking to hold the drugmaker responsible for allowing its pills to flood the black market and into Everett.

Purdue Pharma argues in court documents filed Monday that there is no basis in law for a municipality to bring such an action against a pharmaceutical manufacturer. It also says that the city's complaint fails to state a claim due to multiple legal failings.

Everett, north of Seattle, sued the Connecticut-based company in January seeking to hold it accountable for illegal trafficking of its pills. The city claims Purdue knowingly allowed pills to be funneled into the black market and into the city and did nothing to stop it.