JUUL Class Action Lawsuit

What’s Inside

This piece is intended to thoroughly examine JUUL lawsuits. It traces the narrative from the initial discovery of health concerns tied to the vape pens, through the complex legal battles that have ensued, and up to the current status of these legal disputes.

It will serve as a practical guide for those who may have been negatively affected by JUUL vape pens, and will provide concise steps on how to lodge a claim, pursue compensation, and potentially secure an advance on a future settlement.

What is the JUUL Class Action Lawsuit?

According to the lawsuit, JUUL Labs used unfair and misleading tactics to get minors to use their nicotine-addictive vaping cigarettes.

According to the California Federal Court, JUUL Labs unveiled an e-cigarette in 2015. This was promoted as a risk-free substitute for smoking traditional cigarettes. In the early days of the vaping market, JUUL sold around 75% of all e-cigarettes. However, the firm was required to discontinue selling its vaping goods by the Food and Drug Administration in 2022. In July 2022, the FDA later placed a temporary hold on its directive.

About 4,000 lawsuits have been filed against JUUL Labs as of late by JUUL users, the majority of which claim that the business used misleading marketing tactics or neglected to disclose the dangers of its products.

Significance of the case

Those who were misled into thinking that JUUL was “better than smoking” or “a safer alternative to smoking” are now becoming hooked on the product and are experiencing major health problems. This includes teenagers who had never smoked before. Those who are battling potentially fatal health repercussions and have become addicted to JUUL are presently contacting a JUUL attorney to bring a case to be compensated for the losses they have suffered as a result of JUUL’s carelessness and deceptive marketing.

JUUL risks associated with vaping were not disclosed by the manufacturer, and as an outcome, thousands of children, adults, and smokers attempting to stop are now suffering because of it. The JUUL lawsuit will make JUUL responsible for its crimes and the pandemic of underage vaping that it has sparked.

Who is JUUL?

American electronic cigarette manufacturer JUUL Labs, Inc. split out from Pax Labs in 2017. The JUUL electronic cigarette, which is produced by JUUL Labs, atomizes nicotine salts made from tobacco provided via single-use cartridges.

James Monsees and Adam Bowen co-founded JUUL Labs, which has its main office in San Francisco. On December 20, 2018, Altria (previously Philip Morris Companies) paid $12.8 billion for a 35% share in JUUL Labs. A $2 billion incentive was given to JUUL, which would be shared among its 1,500 staff members.

With an extensive social media marketing effort, JUUL rose to the top spot among e-cigarettes in the US by the end of 2017, and as of September 2018, it has a 72% market share.

Moreover, JUUL bought advertisement space in Seventeen magazines and on the Nick Jr. network channel. JUUL purchased advertisements on seventeen various education, gaming, and crafts websites targeting middle and high school children, according to papers released by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office.

Concerns from the health sector and several inquiries by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been raised by its widespread usage by younger folks.

The famous USB-shaped smoking gadget known as JUUL, made by JUUL Labs, has recently captured the attention of the e-cigarette market. Most adults and adolescent smokers enjoy it for its variety of delicious flavors and slim, concealable design.

E-Cigarette: Understanding Vape Pen Public Health Crisis

E-cigarette usage has lately become a hot topic in medical conversations around the nation, and over the past ten years, there has been a noticeable surge in teen e-cigarette use.

The most popular e-cigarette brand in the United States is JUUL; teenagers even refer to JUULing as a verb. The nicotine content in JUUL pods is 5% or 59 mg/ml. This equates to 20 combustible cigarettes’ worth of nicotine. This is made even more troubling by research that found 39% of teenagers did not think JUULs were e-cigarettes at all. And according to a different survey, 63% of teenagers were unaware that JUUL pods even included nicotine.

It has been shown that e-cigarette advertisements heavily target teenagers. Teenagers were the target audience for everything, including the product itself, the packaging, and the billboards. Social media ads were extensively dispersed. In the years between 2014 and 2016, vaping advertisements skyrocketed, and research indicated that 78% of middle and high school kids had seen at least one of them.

Given the serious health concerns that e-cigarettes bring to teenagers, this focused marketing of these products is especially detrimental. Most individuals are aware that nicotine affects the developing brain in several ways. The fact that many e-cigarettes have greater nicotine content than conventional cigarettes is not generally known, unfortunately.

E-cigarettes are marketed as a means for smokers to get their nicotine dose without experiencing any of the negative effects of cigarette smoking. The FDA hasn’t, however, authorized any e-cigarettes for quitting smoking, which would need a thorough evaluation backed up by scientific evidence. Presently accepted treatments only include nicotine lozenges and gum.

New JUUL Lawsuit Updates

Government agencies are not the only ones pursuing cases; an increasing number of e-cigarette consumers have also sued JUUL, alleging that the company’s products caused them damage. JUUL has dealt with a variety of legal difficulties and here are its most notable cases:

June 2021

JUUL paid $40 million to settle a claim made by the state of North Carolina that the business was to blame for a rise in underage vaping in the state.

November 2021

JUUL Labs resolved a lawsuit brought by the Arizona Attorney General in November 2021, which said the company’s illegal marketing tactics targeted younger users and minimized the hazards of vaping. The court agreed to a $14.5 million settlement.

April 2022

JUUL and Washington State reached a $22.5 million settlement in April 2022, resolving claims alleging the company misled consumers about the product’s addictiveness and engaged in deceptive marketing to children. JUUL also committed to implementing a secret shopper program to check whether retailers are forbidding children from purchasing its products.

September 2022

JUUL provisionally agreed to pay more than $438 million in September 2022 to settle a two-year investigation by 33 states into the marketing of its high-nicotine vaping products to underage users. The business made no admission of wrongdoing.

December 2022

JUUL reached an agreement with 10,000 plaintiffs in 5,000 cases in California in December 2022 about the advertising and addiction to the products. The settlement is said to be between $1.2 and $1.7 billion. Plaintiff school districts are parties to the agreement. Judge Orrick has not yet given his approval, although he did describe it as just and reasonable.

January 2023

Beginning in January 2023, A 255 million settlement (in dollars) was authorized by District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco to end the class action settlement lawsuit that claimed the firm misrepresented the product’s addictive potential and targeted children.

According to West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey “Such settlement puts companies like Juul in check to not copy big tobacco’s playbook and gear marketing strategies toward underage people .”

March 2023

JUUL agreed to provide $23.8 million to the city of Chicago in March 2023 to resolve allegations that the e-cigarette manufacturer misrepresented the benefits of its products and offered vaping supplies to minors.

5,969 JUUL cases from all across the United States were consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL), MDL-2913, as of March 16, 2023. Both class action lawsuits and single personal injury claims brought in four states are represented by the cases.

Vaping’s legal environment is complicated and dynamic. Although e-cigarettes and related vaping devices have grown in popularity recently, continuing discussions over their safety and probable health hazards continue. To regulate the creation, distribution, and utilization of these items, different regulatory agencies have taken action.

The Food and Drug Administration or FDA in the United States has played an integral part in the regulation of e-cigarettes and vaping devices, especially as its users continuously increase nationwide. Various tobacco products, specifically e-cigarettes, are since been under FDA regulation policies, which expanded in 2016. Ever since, the organization has put in place a variety of safeguards to guarantee the reliability and safety of these items, such as requiring producers to register with the FDA and present their goods for premarket evaluation.

The FDA’s control of e-cigarettes and/or vaping devices has addressed priority in cutting off the access of minors to such devices. The FDA released a guideline in 2019 that prohibited the selling of flavored e-cigarettes to places that require customers to be at least 18 years old, including vape shops and online retailers that utilize age-verification software. Further, the FDA has taken several enforcement proceedings against businesses that have advertised to youngsters or made false statements regarding the safety of their products.

The legal environment remains complex even though the FDA has taken moves to regulate e-cigarettes and vaping goods. Local governments and states have also put in place their restrictions, some of which completely forbid the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. It’s anticipated that regulatory efforts will be implemented to safeguard public health and well-being as various research about the health dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping grows further.

Initial Lawsuits Against JUUL

Before news of widespread lung ailments and fatalities linked to vaping started to surface in the middle of 2019, the majority of the early cases in the mass litigation were submitted. According to a New York Times article from October 2019, some of the sickened individuals had previously consumed nicotine products under the JUUL brand.

In October 2019, the very first wrongful death case against JUUL was submitted in a federal district court in California.

David Wakefield, 18, allegedly started vaping after being introduced to JUUL advertising when he was 15 and kept doing so for years, according to his mother.

Wakefield carried on vaping after leaving the hospital. The complaint states that the father discovered the kid had passed away in his sleep on August 31, 2019.

According to the complaint, JUUL sold its products to minors, and Wakefield’s death was significantly influenced by the company’s “actions and the defects in JUUL products.”

Furthermore, early in the year in April, the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration started looking into reports of seizures linked to e-cigarette use. Teenagers and young adults were the main subjects of the reports. Although the FDA investigation was still ongoing, a few individuals who experienced these seizures started bringing legal claims.

The Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)

JUUL has been listed as the main defendant in an increasing amount of product liability cases around the nation since the beginning of the vaping safety concern. There are now 55 different lawsuits that have been brought against JUUL. During the next several years, JUUL and other producers are likely to face thousands more vaping cases, according to the majority of legal experts.

JUUL attempted to establish a Multi-District Litigation (MDL) in August 2019 to aid in managing the impending legal deluge. In re: JUUL Labs, Inc., Marketing, Sales, Practices and Product Liability Lawsuit, attorneys for JUUL submitted a move to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation asking that all federal court proceedings be consolidated through an MDL (MDL No. 2913). JUUL’s MDL motion requested the quick consolidation of 10 ongoing lawsuits, while the JPML Panel found an additional 40 “tag-along” lawsuits that could be connected.

The instances in question entail repeated accusations. Firstly, it is alleged in every instance that JUUL purposefully targeted minors with the marketing of its e-cigarette products and concealed the fact that it was significantly more addictive than regular cigarettes. The lawsuits also make standard product liability claims, arguing that JUUL’s e-cigarettes are flawed and excessively harmful. The Northern District of California or the District of New Jersey should be chosen as the location for the MDL, according to the counsel representing JUUL.

The JPML approved JUUL’s request and established an MDL on October 2, 2019. The JMPL determined that consolidation would serve the best of all parties because the associated cases included common factual issues.

A number of the participating plaintiffs had petitioned the JPML to establish two MDLSs—one involving class action claims and another for instances involving lone plaintiffs. The majority of class action lawsuits were brought by state and municipal governments, who sought compensation for the financial burdens associated with their residents’ addiction to nicotine.

The JPML denied the suggestion to create separate MDLs for the class action and individual cases. Given the similarity of the factual claims in the instances, the Panel believed that a single MDL was more appropriate. The JPML also mentioned how often it develops MDLs which encompass both government class actions and personal plaintiff claims.

The Northern District of California or the District of New Jersey has to be chosen as the location for the JUUL MDL. In the end, the JPML opted to establish the JUUL MDL in California’s Northern District

For two main reasons, Northern California was selected as the location. The Panel began by pointing out that the majority of the crucial information and witness accounts were present at JUUL’s company headquarters in San Francisco. Secondly, the Northern District of California now has five of the constituent actions (such as the first cases) and many tag-along proceedings ongoing. This rendered northern California the apparent alternative to New Jersey as the location.

Current JUUL Lawsuit Claims

The JUUL class action complaint claims that JUUL Laboratories concealed the addictiveness and safety issues related to e-cigarette products in order to market them to a wide number of users. Plaintiffs in the complaint assert that JUUL Labs purposefully targeted adolescents with its product advertisements.

In several instances, plaintiffs claim that e-cigarette addiction caused or made their disorders worse. They contend that they were not informed that vape fluids included significant amounts of the highly addictive chemical nicotine. Others who were harmed when their electronic cigarette burst or caught on fire submitted claims.

Further, according to complaints filed by other e-cigarette users, toxins in e-cigarette fluids contributed to bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia or BOOP. Some cases contend that vaping induced hemorrhagic strokes, which happen when abrupt brain bleeding ends badly.

Examples of specific allegations include the following: In 2019, two college students from Alabama submitted a lawsuit alleging that smoking JUUL e-cigarettes caused them to suffer from significant lung diseases. Elizabeth Swearingen attended the University of Alabama when she was 19 years old. She had participated in cross country in high school. And yet, according to the claim, she “now has trouble breathing during the simplest of tasks.”

A 19-year-old Auburn University student named John Thomas Via Peavy has been smoking JUUL e-cigarettes since he was just 17 years old. He allegedly experienced “severe breathing problems after using JUUL,” according to the lawsuit, which also alleges that Peavy is still experiencing chest constriction and a decreased appetite.

In accordance with the lawsuit, Swearingen and Peavy both accidentally ingested vape liquids while using JUULs. The National Capital Poison Control Center warns that ingesting e-fluids from any e-cigarette or vape pen can be lethal.

JUUL’s Defense Strategy

The e-cigarette manufacturer JUUL has used a multi-pronged defense to respond to several lawsuits and probes. One of their primary arguments is that their goods are a relatively safe alternative to conventional cigarettes and are meant for adult smokers. Moreover, they have stressed how age-verification methods and marketing limits help them fight against the usage of their products by minors.

Many legal issues have also been raised against JUUL, including the claims brought by citizens, states, and the federal government. They have responded by claiming that their goods are not promoted to children and that any damages related to them are due to misuse or the usage of substandard alternatives. They have further maintained that they shouldn’t be held accountable for the deeds of independent retailers or resellers.

Regarding its contribution to the increase of teenage vaping, JUUL has come in for heavy criticism from the general public and the press. They have started many public relations operations to address this, highlighting their attempts to discourage underage usage and promote adult use. In hopes of solving concerns regarding their goods, they have also underlined their dedication to collaborating with authorities and public health experts. Yet, many detractors who see these initiatives as insufficient or untrue have attacked them with suspicion.

Government investigations and actions

The well-known e-cigarette manufacturer JUUL has recently been the target of various government probes and measures. State attorneys general have initiated one of the most noteworthy investigations to ascertain whether JUUL’s marketing strategies have led to a rise in youth vaping.

State attorneys general have interviewed business executives in addition to serving a subpoena on JUUL for records pertaining to its sales and marketing strategies. JUUL has also been sued by several jurisdictions, which claim that the company’s marketing and product development intentionally targeted minors.

The Federal Trade Commission additionally started looking into JUUL’s advertising methods. The FDA is investigating whether JUUL’s social media advertising targeted children in breach of federal law. The FTC continues to look into JUUL’s utilization of prominent people and influencers to advertise its goods.

Impact on JUUL’s business

In recent years, JUUL’s company has had an immense influence. The corporation has seen decreasing revenues and a loss of market share as a consequence of scrutiny from regulators and unfavorable public opinion. JUUL has likewise been the target of various lawsuits, which have cost a lot in legal expenses and settlement sums.

JUUL has drastically altered its marketing and sales strategies in reaction to these difficulties. The business stopped using social media, ceased offering certain flavored goods, and only allowed specific age ranges to obtain its goods. These modifications have been initiated in a bid to allay worries about JUUL’s attraction to adolescents and to encourage the product’s appropriate use.

Even with these efforts, JUUL has had to reorganize its operations due to substantial losses in money. The corporation has reduced operations in various areas and lets go of a sizable section of its personnel. JUUL has additionally been compelled to raise more money in order to fund ongoing operations and fulfill its legal commitments.

JUUL’s business has been significantly impacted overall. Even while JUUL has taken action to solve these issues, it is unclear if the business will be able to return to its past levels of prominence.

The Role of Altria Group

Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris USA, made a $12.8 billion bid for a 35% share in JUUL Labs on December 19, 2018. This transaction joined the biggest American cigarette producer with JUUL Labs, the largest and fastest-growing American maker of vaping products (also known as e-cigarettes or electronic cigarettes). More than twice as much as JUUL Labs’ prior value, the $38 billion basis for the acquisition price surprised numerous Wall Street investors. A six-year agreement that prohibits Altria from acquiring more shares than a 35% interest has been put in place. Additionally, the deal obliged Altria to stop marketing its MarkTen electronic cigarette brand in order to engage in the vaping product category only through JUUL.

According to the JUUL complaints, the firm advertised and distributed its products to young people, and both its marketing and design were intended to be appealing to younger consumers. Altria has been cited as a defendant in many cases pertaining to JUUL’s purported aim at minors as a significant investor and distributor of JUUL products.

Altria has justified its investment in JUUL by saying that it thought the firm had the ability to provide adult users with a safer substitute for conventional cigarettes. The corporation has taken steps to stop minors from accessing its goods, but it additionally recognizes the need to combat teen vaping.

It’s quite unknown how the e-cigarette industry will be governed and how Altria will manage its relationship with JUUL as time passes amid increasing public awareness about the health hazards of vaping pursues.

Influence on vaping regulations and Policies

State and municipal regulations have further evolved, and federal laws have been sterner as an answer to rising concerns about the impacts of vaping on the public’s wellness, in particular among adolescents. The FDA has also put in place regulations on flavored goods and age verification procedures for online sales in an effort to lower the appealing nature of e-cigarettes to minors. State and local governments have likewise taken steps to institute taxes, increase the legal drinking age, and restrict or completely prohibit the sale and marketing of electronic cigarettes as a whole.

The necessity to safeguard young people against nicotine addiction and the possible health dangers linked to e-cigarette use are highlighted in these regulations. These restrictions represent an important achievement towards mitigating the possible risks of vaping and safeguarding the well-being of everyone, even though their impact on public health is still unclear.

Consequences for other vaping companies

Legislators and regulatory bodies are expected to scrutinize other vaping companies more closely as a result of the legal and regulatory proceedings taken against JUUL. Businesses that market youngsters or make misleading health claims may suffer similar repercussions. The bad press surrounding JUUL may also result in a general decline in the public’s opinion of the vaping sector, which may have an effect on sales for all market participants.

As the detrimental consequences of vaping on one’s health become more extensively understood, politicians and authorities are taking tougher action against the sector. Companies that sell vape may be sued in civil court by buyers who have been hurt by their devices or by government authorities if they violate laws or make fraudulent health claims. Companies that exhibit anticompetitive behavior or violate patents or trademarks risk being sued by rival businesses.

Vaping industry practices will probably shift as a result of the increased scrutiny. In order to avoid underage usage, vaping firms may be obliged to develop stronger age verification procedures as well as to be more open about the substances and production methods they utilize. To allay worries about health dangers and appeal to a larger audience, businesses may also need to rebrand or modify their products. Businesses that promote safety, transparency, and compliance are bound to have a competitive edge as the market changes.

Am I Eligible To File a Lawsuit Against JUUL?

A number of people or groups may be qualified to bring legal action against JUUL or other vaping businesses. You might be eligible to bring a case against JUUL if:

  • You are at least 18 years old, and using JUUL e-cigarettes caused you harm or health problems.
  • You are the parent of a minor aged 18 or under who developed a JUUL or other vaping product addiction, suffered harm, or developed health problems as a result of using JUUL. You would be bringing the lawsuit in this scenario on your child’s behalf.

You’ll similarly need evidence to back up your claims that JUUL caused your health issues.

How To File a JUUL Lawsuit

There are several litigations involving Juul. A multi-district lawsuit (MDL) has been established as a result of this.

A class action is different from an MDL. A class action is a significant lawsuit in which a few representative plaintiffs speak for the whole class of those who are harmed. An MDL is a collection of unrelated cases that are brought before a single judge in order to streamline discovery and handle pre-trial matters.

You might be eligible to join the MDL if you want to launch a Juul lawsuit. Due to the group discovery process and multiple bellwether trials, where typical cases are tried, the procedure of pursuing a claim for compensation is substantially streamlined. Settlement discussions will be influenced by the results of these trials.

List of Top JUUL Lawyers

Here is a list we compiled of what may be some of the most qualified JUUL attorneys based on their client successes, testimonies, and peer reviews for their competency as mass tort trial lawyers.

Tor Hoerman
210 S Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025
(618) 223-5657

Miller & Zois
1 South St #2450, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 779-4600

Berger Montague
1818 Market St #3600, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(800) 424-6690

What a JUUL Lawyer Needs To Know About Your Case

Your usage patterns, medical conditions, and attempts to stop using JUUL products are all aspects a JUUL lawyer may ask you about. Additionally, they want documentation or other proof of your claim, as well as a general sense of honesty and integrity. They also require details regarding medical care and costs associated with JUUL utilization. Being genuine while offering all the information required can help to guarantee productive representation.

JUUL Lawsuit Settlements

Will JUUL Settle Their Case Out of Court?

States and private parties have sued JUUL Labs inc for marketing to young people and failure to disclose health hazards. Due to the difficulty of the case, it is questionable if JUUL will reach a settlement outside of court. The result will depend on multiple factors, including the weight of the evidence, the plaintiffs’ motivation to reach a resolution, and the legal liabilities and financial capacity of JUUL. To minimize court costs, the business may settle some lawsuits, but it may also pursue action in other cases.

How Much Is My JUUL Case Worth?

If ailments linked to Juul caused you to miss time at work, you ought to be eligible for reimbursement for any medical expenses you received as a result of those illnesses as well as for any lost pay. Compensation for psychological stress, pain and suffering, and punitive damages are all possibilities.

Plaintiffs will probably be split into several levels depending on the extent of the damages as Juul cases have been merged in an MDL. If a Juul settlement is made available, you should be compensated according to the tier to which you are designated.

JUUL Settlement: How Pre-Settlement Funding Can Help

Are you in the midst of a JUUL lawsuit? If so, you can benefit from pre-settlement funding provided by Tribeca Lawsuit Loans.

Our application process is completely FREE, and the funds are considered non-recourse. That means you are not personally liable for the debt you take on. None of your personal finances will be pursued for repayment. Instead, you repay us an agreed-upon portion of your eventual compensation package.

Expenses You Can Cover with Pre-Settlement Funding

Many of our clients get funds to help pay for expenses in the present while they wait for the money they are truly owed from JUUL. You can use legal funding in any way you need, such as paying for costs like:

  • Medical bills
  • Rent or mortgage payments
  • Replacing wages lost due to your injuries
  • Daily costs like food, clothing, or transportation

Head over to the Apply Now page to get the process started. In as little as 24 hours after your case is approved, you can have anywhere from $500 to $1 million in your bank account! For any questions or concerns about the pre-settlement legal funding process, call Tribeca Lawsuit Loans at (866) 388-2288.

How Your JUUL Lawsuit Loan Is Determined

Not all injuries are the same, and not all lawsuits are valued at the same level. For example, someone who has suffered substantial hearing loss can qualify for a greater settlement amount of 3M military earplug lawsuit loans than someone who suffered minor injuries.

Just as your final compensation will be different from other peoples’, the JUUL lawsuit loan you receive from us will be for a different amount as well.

Here’s how we determine what we are able to provide you.

  1. Damages and Compensation. One of the most important aspects is your list of damages for which you are seeking compensation. The more you stand to make in compensation, the more Tribeca Lawsuit Loans can provide to help you in the meantime.
  2. Lawsuit Duration. We also consider the length of time your lawsuit is likely to take. For example, someone who has a lawsuit that might take several years to resolve will need more financial assistance than someone whose lawsuit is set to conclude in a few months.
  3. Strength of Case. Our underwriters go over the strength of your case, including the evidence your attorney has gathered. Stronger cases reduce the risk that Tribeca Lawsuit Loans takes on since you do not pay us back if you lose your lawsuit.

You repay us directly out of your compensation package (actually, your lawyer will write us a check for the agreed-upon amount when they receive the compensation check, so you don’t have to lift a finger!). That means getting a JUUL lawsuit loan does NOT require:

  • A deep dive into your bank statements
  • A credit score check
  • Proof of income or employment

Eligible to File a JUUL Case: Apply for a JUUL Lawsuit Loan for FREE Today

Head over to our Apply Now page to fill out our FREE form. There is no cost for applying, no hidden fees, and no touching your personal finances. Let’s work together to get you the money you need now so that you can get the money you deserve in the future.

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