Judge Dismisses Claims by 3 Va. Plaintiffs Claiming Addiction to OxyContin

BIG STONE GAP, Va. - Evidence of drug dependency separate from any use of OxyContin was cited by a Virginia federal judge in granting summary judgment to Purdue Pharma on Aug. 18. McCauley, et al. v. Purdue Pharma, et al., Nos. 2:02CV00080 and 2:02CV00054 (W.D. Va.).

In a published opinion, U.S. District Judge James P. Jones of the Western District of Virginia credited testimony on addiction by three experts retained by Purdue Pharma on claims by three plaintiffs in consolidated actions.

A.F. McCauley, 70, is a former coal miner with an extensive history of addiction to painkillers and detoxification, Judge …