OLYMPIA – Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson tweeted Monday “Good riddance to a company whose irresponsible and deceptive conduct fueled the opioid epidemic,” referring to a bankruptcy filing by Purdue Pharma.

The company that makes the prescription painkiller oxycontin announced its intention to declare bankruptcy on Sunday, just days after reaching a tentative settlement with many of the state and local governments suing over the toll of opioids.

Purdue still faces a string of legal battles, including one here in Washington state. The collective lawsuits are seeking billions of dollars in damages — claiming the company knowingly fueled the ongoing opioid crisis.

Ferguson’s tweet went on to say, “I will continue to fight for Washingtonians and my team is focused on preparing for our trial in February.”

Ferguson believes bankruptcy will not get Purdue or the family who owns it off the hook legally, though it may delay some pending trials.