JUUL was launched in 2015 and has gained popularity as the most widely used e-cigarette brand in the United States. Despite its widespread use, there has been a growing wave of complaints against the brand, with users complaining of nicotine poisoning, seizures, stroke, and lung injuries.
Many people have filed lawsuits through a national personal injury law firm like ours, claiming that the high nicotine levels led to e-cig addiction, worsening the health dangers for electronic cigarette users. If you or your loved one above 18 are victims of similar side effects after using JUUL, you have a right to file a lawsuit.
What Is the Status of JUUL Lawsuits?
The number of e-cigarette lawsuits is growing alongside increased use among teens and young people. The lawsuits targeting JUUL Labs Inc. are because the brand intentionally targets teens in marketing its vaping products. It also deceived customers about the addictiveness of vaping, but the company has denied these claims.
As of the most recent publicly available information in August 2022, there were more than 4,000 JUUL lawsuits across the country. These were combined in multidistrict litigation (MDL-2913). However, no trials in mass litigation have begun yet.
The cases represent class action lawsuits and individual personal injury cases in four states. The expectation is that the litigation will continue growing. If you believe you have a reason to join in the lawsuit, consult a national JUUL e-cigarette attorney to advise you on the steps to take depending on the class action lawsuits and other legal issues you can join.
Do I Qualify for an E-Cigarette Lawsuit?
Using JUUL pods for e-cigarettes is closely associated with the onset of seizures. As the Food and Drug Administration reports, that happens as a side effect of nicotine toxicity. After an investigation by the FDA, there were 35 reported cases of seizures in which e-cigarettes were a significant factor between 2010 and early 2019.
There’s a high likelihood that more cases have been reported than documented because of the voluntary nature of reporting. If you or your loved one started having seizures following the use of JUUL pods or Vuse, you might qualify to join the class action lawsuit investigation. An e-cigarette lawyer in North Carolina can help you pursue a claim.
What are Some Big Companies Named in e-cigarette Lawsuits?
Altria and Phillip Morris are among the Big Tobacco companies mentioned in JUUL lawsuits. These make and market Marlboro and other tobacco cigarettes, with Altria having purchased 35% of JUUL in December 2018.
The companies were part of the largest civil court settlements in the history of the United States. For example, in the 1998 tobacco settlement, tobacco companies in lawsuits with 46 states, five United States territories, and the District of Columbia agreed to pay $246 billion over 25 years.
There’s a possibility that other e-cigarette makers with ties to tobacco companies may be named in other e-cigarette lawsuits not included in the JUUL mass litigation. These include Imperial Brands and British American Tobacco, the marketers of Blu e-cigs and Vuse, respectively.
What Claims Can I Bring in JUUL Lawsuits?
Plaintiffs have several different claims against JUUL, including:
- Negligence
- Strict liability in the case of product defects
- Breach of implied warranty
- Intentional misrepresentation
- Failure to warn users of the product’s dangers
- Selling 1 million contaminated vape pods
Suing for Health Problems from JUUL and E-Cigarettes
JUUL has also been found to have a link to many serious health issues like:
- Cardiac problems
- Stroke
- Seizures
- Severe addiction
- Respiratory failure
- Lung problems
- Nicotine poisoning
- Mental health issues and suicidal ideation
- Heart attacks
- Pregnancy-related complications
- Cardiovascular disease
- Behavioral changes or problems
- Wrongful death
If you experienced these health problems after using JUUL, you might be able to pursue a JUUL claim with the help of a national personal injury law firm. Experienced e-cigarette lawyers in Wilmington and Jacksonville can help you prove that the problems occurred due to negligence.
What Will I Need to Prove in a JUUL Lawsuit?
Once you file a JUUL lawsuit, you must be able to prove that:
- You or your loved one suffered harm after using the products
- JUUL Labs owed you a duty of care
- JUUL Labs didn’t live up to that duty
You also must prove that the failure of JUUL Labs to live up to its duty of care contributed directly to the harm you suffered after using the products. Since many JUUL users also use tobacco products, it can be challenging to prove the claim.
The lack of long-term data on the dangers of vaping can complicate the case even further. However, an experienced national JUUL e-cigarette attorney can help you create a solid case to enhance your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.
How Can I File a JUUL Lawsuit?
Many people have already filed JUUL lawsuits, forming multidistrict litigation. That means they have been consolidated before one judge for efficiency in the discovery and handling of pretrial matters. To simplify the process, you can join the MDL if you wish to pursue a JUUL lawsuit. However, keep in mind that several bellwether trials will happen, and they’ll shape settlement negotiations.
Consider speaking to an experienced national JUUL e-cigarette attorney to determine if you can join the MDL. They’ll assess your eligibility for inclusion and explore other options for pursuing compensation against JUUL Labs.
How Likely Is a JUUL Settlement?
In most cases, JUUL Labs may offer a settlement instead of going to court to control their risk. The company has, in many cases, made large settlements for lawsuits brought by state authorities in the past.
While this is likely to happen, you can’t know the outcome until bellwether trials occur. So, it’s impossible to predict whether the lawsuits will settle or even the amount JUUL Labs will offer as a settlement.
Learn Your Legal Options from an Experienced National PI Attorney
You’re entitled to compensation for the damages incurred due to the side effects of JUUL. These include lost wages if you or your loved one got ill and you had to take time off work to get treatment. Emotional pain, suffering, and punitive damages are other potential damages for which you could pursue a settlement with the help of a national JUUL e-cigarette lawyer.
Let an experienced lawyer from our national personal injury law firm walk with you on this journey. We are happy to help clients get the compensation they get in personal injury cases and will be honored to represent you in your JUUL lawsuit. Talk to us today to get started.