HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- A federal lawsuit filed by the mother of a Huntsville teen who died after being arrested in a drug sting in June 2013 should be dismissed, attorneys for Huntsville argued in court filings Friday.

The lawsuit filed by Nancy Smith alleges her 17-year-old son died as the result of excessive force by officers, causing him to choke while he was handcuffed and being held down. The suit alleges an 18-year-old was enlisted to make an arranged drug purchase on June 13, 2013 from the teen, identified in court documents as "N.S."

Attorneys for the City of Huntsville, Police Chief Lewis Morris and Lt. Dewayne McCarver argue the excessive force claims in the lawsuit should be dismissed because the federal law cited by the plaintiff doesn't provide a remedy for survivors to pursue action and it applies the wrong constitutional violation in the claim.

It also argues there is no basis for a false arrest claim or unlawful search claim and says claims of failure to supervise and train officers correctly should be dismissed.

The lawsuit contends that the informant went to the Smith's home to purchase a controlled substance from N.S. with officers waiting nearby to make an arrest, if needed.

The lawsuit claims at some point in the transaction, a female plainclothes officer came running toward N.S. and did not identify herself as an officer. He began walking in the other direction. An officer grabbed him and threw him to the ground, cuffed him and pepper-sprayed him, the suit claims.

N.S. began choking, the lawsuit alleges, and at some point another officer called for paramedics.

"Minor N.S. was lying on the ground, unable to move as a result of the police officer confining him beneath the weight of his body and the effects of being pepper sprayed in the face," the lawsuit argues. "While handcuffed, defendant officer was forcefully and unlawfully shoving his knees into minor N.S.'s back, further hindering minor N.S.'s ability to breathe. Minor N.S. was unable to move any part of his body.

"Although Minor N.S. continued to choke and lose consciousness, defendant officers refused to remove his handcuffs or allow him to sit upright to attempt to breathe."

The lawsuit contends that when paramedics arrived they told police N.S appeared lifeless and had no pulse.

Police told the paramedics N.S. had swallowed a bag of drugs, causing him to choke, the suit claims. In an effort to retrieve the alleged bag, police shoved a sharp object into the teen's throat, the lawsuit claims. No bag was retrieved at the scene or at the hospital where he was treated until his death, the lawsuit contends.

The lawsuit also claims N.S., who was 6 feet tall, 130 pounds, suffered two broken ribs as a result of the force used by police during the arrest, that the teen suffered cardiac arrest and his body had numerous bruises.

City officials have said the matter was reviewed and they are confident police handled the encounter properly.

U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon issued an order Monday giving the plaintiffs until July 10 to respond to the city's motion to dismiss.

Kallon also set a pre-trial schedule and ordered a Feb. 15, 2016 trial date.