JUUL Lawsuit Litigation 2023 Updates

Electronic cigarettes were manufactured as a way to decrease lung cancer in adults who smoke by utilizing vapor instead of smoke. JUUL Labs introduced its electronic cigarette in 2015 and quickly rose to provide 75% of all e-cigs on the market. However, the FDA ordered the company to stop selling its product in 2022. 

There have been two common complaints against the company in the subsequent over 5,000 lawsuits filed against them: 

• JUUL has used deceptive marketing practices
• JUUL failed to adequately warn consumers about the risks associated with their products

Due to the enormous caseload of these lawsuits, they have been consolidated into a Multi-District Litigation (MDL) which has been in progress since 2019.

JUUL Lawsuit Updates

• Since 2019, JUUL Labs has settled on electronic cigarette MDLs numerous times outside of court.
• In 2021, both in Arizona and North Carolina, the e-cig manufacturer was forced to settle with states for $14.5 and $40 million, respectively. 
  • Both of these cases focused on how JUUL’s marketing had targeted minors for their product.
• Throughout 2022, JUUL Labs settled with various states as well. They settled with Washington and California, but they also made a larger, general settlement when they paid $438 million to dozens of states where their marketing had been proven to target minors. 
• In January and April of 2023, JUUL Labs settled with even more states in many lawsuits. 

JUUL’s Problematic Marketing 

In addition to JUUL Lab’s e-cigarettes causing health problems, they have also been accused of using deceptive marketing to gloss over some of the risks of using their product. More importantly, the marketing for JUUL’s products was created to target minors and underage consumers. 

This problematic marketing encouraged underage individuals to begin smoking, leading to an uptick in teenage nicotine addiction. One of the other contributing factors towards the effective marketing of this product to teenagers and younger children is that the product comes in different flavors, including fruits and other “fun flavors” and is paired with bright and colorful advertisements geared at children. 

The JUUL product and other advertising media are often featured at concerts and festivals where young people are a high percentage of the attendees. This further leads credence to how the marketing demographic skews. 

How JUUL Labs Benefited Big Tobacco

The JUUL electronic cigarette lawsuits also named the tobacco company Altria as a defendant. Vape pens utilize nicotine, so big tobacco companies like Altria benefited from JUUL’s targeted marketing and their product.

The reason Altria was named in certain suits, particularly in the state of Minnesota, is because state legislatures claimed that JUUL’s introduction worked to undo many of the regulations imposed on the tobacco industry beginning in the 90s. 

The state plaintiffs continue to allege that they had made significant strides against teenage nicotine addiction before the marketing of JUUL’s vape pen device. However, because of this product, the rates had begun to experience a resurgence among young people.

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Health Problems Related to JUUL E-Cigarettes

The use of e-cigarettes, or vape pens as they are sometimes known, can cause adverse side effects that range from mild to severe. These symptoms are well-documented and varied. Some of the most common health effects include: 

• Changes in Behavior
• Heart Problems
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Mental Health Problems/Suicidal Ideation
• Nicotine Poisoning
• Breathing/Lung Problems
• Addiction
• Seizures
• And Others

One study, published in the Journal of Dental Research in 2021, even linked consistent vaping to gum disease and irritation. 

There are plenty of health risks to vaping, and even if some of them are mild, JUUL can be held liable for the way they failed to adequately warn consumers about the risks. 

What to Do If You Have Been Injured by a JUUL Electronic Cigarette

You may be eligible for compensation if you’ve been hurt or suffered as a result of consistent e-cigarette usage. The attorneys at Van Law Firm can help guide you through the filing process and fight to earn you the best compensation they can for what you have suffered. 

If contact us today, our team will help answer all your questions with a free consultation. Your time is running out to file a claim, so don’t wait! Contact us today and let us represent you and your case.