In a statement on Tuesday night, First Access Entertainment called claims that any of its employees contributed to Lil Peep’s death “categorically untrue.” The company said the musician’s accidental overdose was a “terrible tragedy,” and added that its staff had encouraged him to stop using drugs.

“Unfortunately, in spite of our best efforts, he was an adult who made his own decisions and opted to follow a different, more destructive path,” the statement reads. “While First Access is deeply saddened by Lil Peep’s untimely death, we will not hesitate to defend ourselves against this groundless and offensive lawsuit.”

Mercer and Ortega did not respond to requests for comment.

Lil Peep (born Gustav Ahr) was on the forefront of a genre-bending movement and seemed on the verge of mainstream fame when he died at 21 in November 2017, making him just one in a handful of notable musicians who have overdosed on opioids in recent years; the synthetic drug fentanyl was also cited in the deaths of Prince, Tom Petty and Mac Miller. But Lil Peep’s is the first recent case in which an artist’s family has attempted to hold the music business itself responsible . There have been no criminal charges in connection to his death.

“This is something that I must do as a mother,” Womack said in an interview, citing her ongoing worry for young artists. “I feel very concerned that they not be exploited,” she said. “What Gus had to live through is actually horrifying to me, and I’m sure he’s not the only person his age in this situation.”