JUUL, Other E-Cigarette Manufacturers Facing Suits for Marketing Tactics
In yet another lawsuit, the manufacturers of JUUL e-cigarettes are facing claims that they targeted minors with exploitive and illegal marketing tactics. The lawsuit comes from Decorah Community School District in Decorah, Iowa that claims these deceptive and illegal marketing tactics resulted in the widespread addiction problems plaguing their students, as well as other students across the country.
The lawsuit from the Decorah Community School District was filed in early October and is one of the latest facing the e-cigarette chain, joining other school districts nationwide who have filed similar lawsuits addressing the rising nicotine addiction problems with minors that are fueled by e-cigarette manufacturers like JUUL Labs, Philip Morris USA, Altria group, and Nu Mark LLC.
Now, it appears that JUUL Labs, which was founded in 2015, is facing several lawsuits and class action claims surrounding their marketing towards minors and teenagers. Many of the legal actions alleged that the marketing tactics, and downplaying of the addictiveness of their product, are at the heart of the serious nicotine addiction epidemic facing minors in the U.S.
Nicotine Addition Fueled by E-Cigarettes
E-cigarettes and vapes, popularized in the 2010’s, are electronic devices that heat a liquid that can contain nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals to produce an aerosol vapor. This is then inhaled by a person to deliver nicotine, along with other harmful chemicals, without the use of spark or fire. Initially seen as a safer way for adults to smoke compared to traditional cigarettes, these products quickly found their way into the hands of minors interested in smoking the various fun flavors offered by e-cigarettes that weren’t offered by traditional cigarettes.
With flashy social media marketing, fruity flavors, and a downplayed risk of nicotine addiction, JUUL was fast to become popular among younger audiences. Coupled with the small size of the JUUL, shaped similarly to a USB stick, and the ability to smoke without traceable smoke, many schools started to report widespread use of e-cigarettes by students in school classrooms and bathrooms as the new addictive trend took off.
In 2020, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, found that more than three million high school and middle school students reported e-cigarette use, including a high percentage utilizing flavored e-cigarettes. While the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, prohibited the sale of e-cigarette cartridges in any flavor other than tobacco or menthol in early 2020, many younger users find loopholes to the flavor ban by tampering with the easy-to-open JUUL pods to fill with other flavored vape liquids.
In the past, JUUL and other e-cigarette manufacturers came under fire for the deaths reportedly linked to tampered JUUL pods, or the replaceable components of the e-cigarette that contain the flavored nicotine content. As users filled these pods with THC and other non-compatible smoking liquids, they started to report ailments. Multiple people, ranging from minors to adults, were admitted to hospitals across the country with respiratory issues linked to tampered JUUL pods and sustained injuries or even death from the easy-to-deface pods.
Contact a Knowledgeable E-Cigarette Attorney Today
Much of the legal discussion surrounding e-cigarette manufacturers like JUUL is that the companies placed profits before people, pushing unfair and deceptive marketing tactics to draw in younger users in such a way that fueled the staggering increase in teen vaping and e-cigarette use.
Unfortunately, JUUL and other e-cigarette manufacturers are continuing to sell and advertise their products despite the understanding many have that their product is harming young adults and teens. With an increasing number of minors reporting e-cigarette use, and an increase in number of people who smoke, it appears that the harmful trend started by JUUL will continue to persist.
At the Whitley Law Firm, we understand the frustration and anger that can arise when a negligent company is not held liable for their actions – and that’s where we could help. Our legal advocates and attorneys have years of experience in product liability law and have pursued many cases against manufacturers and companies that care more about their success than the wellbeing of their consumers.
Whether you would like to begin your case against e-cigarette companies like JUUL, or if you would like to discuss your case with our team for free, we are available to help. The dedicated and knowledgeable team at Whitley Law Firm are ready to help you pursue the justice you may deserve. Contact us today to see how we could help.
