Watershed Moment As California Files Suit Against Juul

Nov 20,2019

In what may become a pivotal moment in the ongoing saga of the national vaping epidemic, the state of California has officially filed suit against Juul Labs Inc., claiming that the San Francisco-based company has been deliberately marketing to teenagers and is deliberately hiding warnings about the health risks associated with e-cigarettes.

The suit, spearheaded by Attorney General Xavier Becerra, was filed soon after new findings were released by the federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) which detailed to a greater extent the prevalence of vaping-related illnesses in the US. According to this data, there are currently over 2,100 vaping-related illnesses that have been identified across the country. Of these specific cases, 14% involve individuals aged 18 and younger. In addition to these non-lethal cases, there have now been 42 deaths linked directly to vaping.

Holding Juul Accountable For Vaping Illnesses

A single Juul e-cigarette can offer a user 200 “puffs” before being depleted. According to the latest research, these 200 puffs are the equivalent of smoking a pack of regular cigarettes. Information such as this, Becerra argues, must be made available to consumers, particularly those are first being introduced to e-cigarettes and have little to no exposure to current research surrounding them.

Within the specific content of the lawsuit, a number of alleged transgressions have been named as grounds for legal action. These include:

Selling tobacco products to individuals under the legal age.
Selling tobacco products to consumers without taking the time to properly verify their age.
Violating currently laws surrounding privacy rights for minors by sending marketing content to the email addresses affiliated with minors.
Playing an instrumental role in creating a public health epidemic.

Vaping Lawsuits on a National Level

Although the state of California is taking a proactive approach towards holding Juul accountable for these alleged violations, they are not the first state to file suit against the company. Although Juul has only existed as a company since 2015, it has also been subjected to legal suits from the state of North Carolina and New York, among others.

It remains to be seen how these lawsuits will impact Juul in both the long and short term. It is a sure bet, however, that a number of vape users, state legislatures and law firms alike will be closely monitoring these situations. The precedent established by the outcome of these legal challenges will likely have a direct impact on the likelihood of similar lawsuits in the near future.

Personal Injury Attorneys in Palm Springs

Our firm has been personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in an accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

Learn more about the team of attorneys and legal experts at Walter Clark Legal Group.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections