Juul Labs Inc., the e-cigarette manufacturer, has agreed to pay a $462 million multistate settlement over allegations of causing a “nationwide youth vaping epidemic.”
Juul agrees to pay $462 million settlement. (Photo: Yahoo Sports)
New York Attorney General Announced Largest Settlement
The settlement, announced by New York Attorney General Letitia James, is the largest multistate settlement with the company. The settlement will resolve lawsuits from six states and the District of Columbia alleging that Juul marketed its vaping products to underage users.
New York alone will receive $112 million over eight years, with $14 million coming in the next 90 days. The other recipients of the lawsuit settlements are Illinois, California, the District of Columbia, and Massachusetts, according to a report published in Washington Examiner.
According to James, Juul misled consumers about the health risks of its products and targeted youths by glamorizing vaping with colorful ads featuring young models at flashy parties in New York City and the Hamptons while downplaying the harmful effects of vaping.
James further stated that Juul played a central role in the youth vaping epidemic and that the company’s lies led to a nationwide public health crisis, putting addictive products in the hands of minors who thought they were doing something harmless.
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$400 Million Settlement
In a published article in The New York Times, the $400 million settlement will resolve nearly all the pending lawsuits. The agreement prevents Juul from directly or indirectly targeting youth in its marketing or portraying anyone under 35 in the company’s videos. Juul has also agreed to undergo severe restrictions on its marketing and sales practices.
This is not Juul’s first settlement payout. In September 2020, the company agreed to pay at least $438.5 million in a settlement with 33 states and Puerto Rico and also agreed to pay $1.7 million to resolve over 5,000 lawsuits in December.
