Washington’s Skagit County and three cities located within it are the latest jurisdictions in the state to sue drugmakers over the opioid crisis.
Mount Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro Woolley joined the county in filing a federal lawsuit in Seattle against Purdue Pharma, Endo, and Janssen, three of the primary manufacturers of prescription painkillers. The cities of Everett and Tacoma have also filed federal lawsuits against the drug companies, but those cases have been transferred to U.S. District Court in Cleveland, which is overseeing dozens of similar cases from across the country.
Seattle and Washington state have also sued the companies, but in state court. Skagit County officals contend the companies provided false information to doctors and patients about the safety of the drugs.
The drug companies have disputed the allegations. (AP)
