JuuL Lawsuits: Everything To Know Before Hiring a Juul Lawyer

Juul Labs, Inc. manufactures Juul, a popular electronic cigarette. A Juul device has two parts: the battery system and the nicotine cartridge called the Juul pod. The vape pod contains e-juice made of flavorings, nicotine, propylene glycol, and other chemicals.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported about the youth vaping epidemic. It found that 2.55 million middle and high school students in the US used e-cigarettes. Notably, 84.9 percent of owners use flavored e-cigarettes. Moreover, the study showed that Juul is a popular e-cigarette among young adults.

According to the Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes, vaping could cause health risks. E-cigarettes may emit potentially toxic substances and cause burns when manufactured poorly. There is also substantial evidence that long-term e-cigarette use could increase cancer risk.

Contact an attorney if you suffer health issues due to Juul Labs’ deceptive marketing tactics or defective products. You can initiate a personal injury case and get the compensation you deserve.

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“Often, the lack of success in filing a medical malpractice claim is due to the injured parties being unaware of the complexity of medical malpractice laws, filing past deadlines, failing to account for the limitations in damages, and discounting many of the administrative and procedural rules that are required for a successful medical malpractice claim.”

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Possible Side Effects of Juul and Other E-Cigarettes

Social media posts from influencers can make young people vulnerable to e-cigarettes, such as Juul products. E-cigarette makers may claim they provide a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, but e-cig still contain potentially harmful substances.

In 2020, vaping affected the health of 2,602 people and caused 59 deaths. Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia each have five fatalities from vaping-related diseases. Four people also died in Massachusetts and California.

NBC News reported that 22 people were hospitalized due to vaping-related breathing problems. One patient had fluid in his lungs, putting him into a temporary coma. Other patients end up needing the intensive care unit and breathing machines. Moreover, a California man died due to a vaping-related illness. These news stories show how e-cigarettes can harm you and your loved ones.

Physical health

Although the US drug regulatory agency has not systematically reviewed e-cigarettes’ effects on human health, research shows the impact of vaping on the lungs. E-cigarette use may cause the following:

• nicotine poisoning
• asthma
• lung disease
• organ damage
• heart attack
• EVALI
• cancer

The amount of nicotine found in a Juul pod is equivalent to 20 cigarettes, putting e-cig users at risk of nicotine poisoning. Its symptoms include vomiting, headache, seizures, coma, and paralysis.

Research published in the CHEST Journal found that secondhand exposure to e-cigarette aerosols may cause asthma. Similarly, the Cleveland Clinic stated that vaping products could cause popcorn lung or bronchiolitis obliterans. It occurs when a person inhales diacetyl, an ingredient of an e-cig. Unfortunately, scientists have yet to develop a cure for popcorn lung. Patients with this lung injury need life-long care to manage their symptoms.

Juul vaping may cause organ damage. Tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, contain nicotine which can raise blood pressure. It can also heighten the risk of heart and kidney failure. Sadly, persons with primary high blood pressure must seek long-term management plans.

Juul use may also lead to an e-cigarette, or vaping product, use-associated lung injury (EVALI). Its symptoms include shortness of breath, fever, shallow breathing, and chest pain. A study revealed that Vitamin E acetate is the leading cause of EVALI. Manufacturers usually add Vitamin E acetate to tobacco products.

In addition, vape contains acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, which can increase the risk of cancer. It can lead to myeloid leukemia and nasopharynx and nasal cavity cancers. Hence, an e-cigarette can cause a series of health problems.

Mental health

E-cigarette use can also cause mental health issues. For instance, Juul users may experience nicotine dependence. Nicotine releases dopamine, making a person temporarily feel good. When the effect subsides, an individual cannot help but vape again.

Symptoms of nicotine dependence include avoiding social activities due to smoking restrictions, frequent vaping, and vaping despite health conditions. They may attempt to stop smoking but cannot resist craving nicotine.

In relation to nicotine dependence, regular use of e-cigarette products can cause nicotine withdrawal. Since people can become addicted to nicotine, they may experience discomfort when trying to stop vaping. Its symptoms include headaches, dizziness, trouble sleeping, concentration problems, and chest tightness.

Researchers also found that e-cigarettes increase the risk of suicidality and depression among adolescents. Moreover, teens with impulsive personality traits may use e-cigs more often. There is also a higher rate of suicidality among adolescents who use traditional and electronic cigarettes.

Consequently, mental health issues from e-cig use can affect an individual’s daily life. For example, people with depression may experience concentration problems. Some may also stop enjoying things that used to bring happiness.

Filing a Legal Claim Against Juul Labs, Inc.

Your lawyer must consider your legal standing, the applicable doctrine, damages, and the existence of multidistrict litigation (MDL) when filing a claim against Juul Labs, Inc.

Possible plaintiffs

Individuals with legal standing may file a personal injury case against Juul Labs. In Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, the Supreme Court provided the test in determining a party’s capacity to sue:

• The complaining party must have suffered an actual or imminent injury;
• The injury and violation complained of must have a direct connection; and
• The court’s favorable decision will likely redress the injury.

In relation to Juul lawsuits, the following persons may sue the company:

• Persons over 18 years old who experienced health issues due to Juul vaping devices; and
• Parents of minors who become addicted to Juul or who experienced health problems due to the e-cigarette.

Establishing product liability

Product liability is a legal remedy that allows plaintiffs to hold a manufacturer liable for producing or marketing a defective item. In relation to Juul lawsuits, the elements of product liability include the following:

• Juul Labs sells a product that the plaintiff uses;
• Juul Labs is the commercial seller of the e-cigarette device;
• Plaintiff suffers an injury;
• When Juul Labs sold the e-cig, it was defective; and
• The defective item caused the injury.

Defects in marketing can incur liability for manufacturers. A sample scenario involves a person who suffered from a lung disease after using a Juul e-cigarette. A lawyer may argue that Juul’s marketing was negligent because it failed to warn customers of possible dangers.

If your child is addicted to Juul, your attorney may invoke the product liability doctrine. They may argue that attractive advertisements without proper warning lure teenagers into using e-cig. As a result, your child experienced the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal due to their addiction.

But before you can receive damages, you must present the following pieces of evidence:

• Medical records
• Hospital bills
• Expert testimonies

Your medical records will demonstrate the severity of your injuries. For example, your CT scan results may reveal if you have EVALI. Moreover, your attorney must submit information about the physical examination. The information will state that the physician has checked your heart rate and listened to your lungs, confirming EVALI. Should you undergo surgery, you can also present operating room records.

Other plaintiffs present expert testimonies to support their claims. Moreover, you can invite researchers to testify on the dangers of e-cigarettes. You must also keep your hospital bills as evidence to support the damages you can seek from Juul Labs.

Damages in Juul lawsuits

You may recover the following in a Juul lawsuit:

• Medical bills
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment

For instance, EVALI patients can receive payment for supportive care and other medicines. In contrast, plaintiffs with severe popcorn lung may get compensation for a lung transplant. The transplant may cost more than $2 million, which can be costly for the average person.

You can also recover payment for lost income. For example, if you had to stay at the hospital for several weeks, you could miss work. As a result, you would not earn salaries, commissions, and bonuses. Your personal injury lawyer must prove that Juul’s negligent marketing caused your missed work opportunities.

Victims of Juul’s marketing may also experience emotional trauma and discomfort from their physical and mental health problems. For example, ICU patients with lung diseases may have a reduced quality of life. In effect, they can demand compensation for pain and suffering, permanent impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Joining a multidistrict litigation

An MDL allows a judge to consolidate hundreds of cases. It streamlines the discovery and pretrial stages, which reduces the burden on courts and increase efficiency. If the parties do not settle, the cases can return to the court where they were originally filed.

Section 1407 of the US Code provides the MDL guidelines:

• The pending cases involved must have one or more common questions of fact.
• The assigned judge or judges must conduct the pretrial proceedings.
• The judicial panel, on its initiative, or the parties may file an action to transfer their cases to the consolidated pretrial proceedings.

You can join an existing consolidated action through an MDL. The judicial panel issued an order transferring cases against Juul Labs, Inc. to the Northern District of California under Judge William H. Orrick. Some actions include personal injury cases and actions on behalf of government entities.

In the Juul Labs MDL, the plaintiffs alleged that the company marketed its e-cigarettes to attract minors while misrepresenting the e-cigs’ dangers. In effect, the product became unreasonably dangerous. Moreover, the plaintiffs argued that the company failed to inform its customers of the addictive ingredient in Juul pods, leading to nicotine addiction among adolescents.

Successful Juul Settlements

Several verdicts have favored the plaintiffs in Juul lawsuits. In 2022, the company agreed to settle over 5,000 cases to stabilize its business operations. However, due to legal restrictions, Juul Labs did not disclose the settlement amount. The cases involved almost 10,000 plaintiffs, including government entities and tribes. They argued that Juul devices caused nicotine addiction among teens.

Juul Labs also agreed to pay Chicago $23.8 million for its marketing campaigns targeted at underage users. The city claimed that the company used colorful designs to appeal to minors, despite the e-cigarettes’ high nicotine content. Chicago will use the settlement money for youth programs.

In 2023, Judge Orrick granted preliminary approval of a $255 million settlement against Juul Labs. The consumers claimed that the company deceptively marketed its products and overcharged them for Juul e-cigarettes. The plaintiffs argued they would not have bought from Juul Labs if it did not downplay the e-cigs’ addictiveness.

Juul Labs, Inc. also entered a $462 million settlement with six states and the District of Columbia. The states include New York, Colorado, Illinois, California, New Mexico, and Massachusetts. Due to the settlement, Juul will stop directly or indirectly marketing its vaping products to persons under 35.

Juul dominated the e-cigarette market due to its enticing flavors, such as mango, mint, and crème brûlée. However, the New York Attorney General said the company started a public health crisis because of its negligent marketing. The District of Columbia Attorney General also alleged that the company knew of its products’ addictiveness, yet it concealed these facts from the public.

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Find Juul Lawyers Through The Personal Injury Center

Juul use can cause numerous health issues like nicotine poisoning, lung diseases, organ damage, EVALI, and cancer. It can also lead to nicotine addiction, suicidality, and depression. These adverse effects can significantly affect a person’s quality of life.

If you or a loved one suffered from e-cig injuries, you could seek compensation from its manufacturer. Visit The Personal Injury Center to learn about negligent marketing and product liability claims. We can match you with a reliable attorney who can represent your claim against Juul Labs or any e-cigarette maker. Our website offers a free consultation for people looking to file a personal injury case.

FAQs on Getting a Juul Lawyer