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Va. Doctor, Pharmacy Sued Over OxyContin
June 13, 2003

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News Summary

A Virginia couple, who earlier pleaded guilty to illegally selling OxyContin, has filed a lawsuit against their pain doctor and the pharmacy that sold them the drug, the Washington Post reported June 8.

Mary and Larry Wyman of Manassas filed the lawsuit, claiming that the doctor and the pharmacist got them addicted to the powerful painkiller.

The lawsuit, filed in Prince William County, asserts that Joseph K. Statkus of the Dulles Pain Management Center in Centreville wrote prescriptions for large amounts of OxyContin without properly examining the couple.

Also named in the lawsuit is William "Toby" Merchant of The Plains Pharmacy in Fauquier County. The couple claims that the pharmacist failed in his duty to stop the couple from buying large amounts of the drug when it was obvious they were addicted.

Statkus and Merchant's pharmacy are also part of a large-scale federal investigation into the practices of several Northern Virginia doctors and pharmacists.

Attorneys for Statkus and Merchant said the Wymans lawsuit is baseless.

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