Associated Press
TACOMA — The city of Tacoma has sued three manufacturers of prescription opioids seeking to hold them accountable for problems related to opioid addiction.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Tacoma alleges that Purdue Pharma, Endo and Janssen made false and misleading statements about the benefits and risks of opioids to doctors and patients over the past two decades.
City Manager Elizabeth Pauli says the city wants to hold the opioid manufacturers liable for the harms they have inflicted on the community as well as financial burden to taxpayers.
Tacoma joins other cities and states in suing drug manufacturers for their alleged role in the opioid epidemic.
In a statement, Purdue vigorously denied the allegations. It said it shared public officials’ concerns about the opioid crisis and was committed to working together to find solutions.
Messages left with Endo and Janssen were not immediately returned.
In January, Everett filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, alleging the company knew it was supplying drug traffickers and flooding the black market with OxyContin.
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