San Diego Unified School District Votes to Join Class Action Lawsuit Against Juul
San Diego Unified School District Votes to Join Class Action Lawsuit Against Juul
San Diego Unified School District has voted to join Los Angeles in a class action lawsuit accusing e-cigarette manufacturer Juul of targeting teenagers with flavored vaping products. According to a report in the Daily Mail, the Board of Education voted 5-0 in favor of joining the Los Angeles Unified School District in their lawsuit against Juul. San Diego has not yet formally filed its suit.
Luring Teens with Social Media Ads
Los Angeles filed its lawsuit last month seeking unspecified compensation for financial harm and punitive damages. Los Angeles also asked the court to allow its suit to be a vehicle for other schools in California to receive compensation from Juul. The lawsuit alleges that Juul targeted young people with flavored vape pods luring them with advertising on social media.
The lawsuit states that Big Tobacco companies are now prohibited from using these tactics to market traditional cigarettes, but nothing stopped Juul from doing so and succeeding. In recent months, Juul has suspended the sale of all flavors except tobacco and menthol in the United States. The company has also suspended all its U.S. advertising. Los Angeles school district officials said rampant vaping among students has led to disruptions, attendance issues and long lines for the restroom because students use bathroom stalls to vape without being seen.
LA school district officials said they filed the class action lawsuit to hold Juul accountable for the role it has played in creating an epidemic that affects students’ health, disrupts learning and is taking valuable district resources, which should be focused on educating students. A recent study found that 27.5% of high school students have reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. Other similar lawsuits against Juul have been filed by school systems in St. Charles, Missouri; Olathe, Kansas; and Long Island, New York.
Harmful Effects of Vaping
There have been more than 75 deaths related to vaping nationwide over the last few months including four deaths right here in California. Many of these deaths have been linked to vaping-related lung damage. The Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration are conducting research regarding precisely what ingredients in the e-cigarettes are causing lung damage.
If you or a loved one has been injured or sickened by an e-cigarette, you may be able to claim compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitative treatment, permanent injuries, and pain and suffering. A family that has lost a loved one may also be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation. An experienced product defect lawyer will be able to help injured victims and families better understand their legal rights and options.
