JUUL E-Cigarette Lawsuits: Do I Have a Case?
The number of teens “vaping,” or using e-cigarettes, is at record levels. Findings from the annual Monitoring the Future survey indicates more than 37% of high school seniors, 32% of high school sophomores, and 11% of eighth-graders report having vaped in the last 12 months. Researchers at the University of Michigan have conducted this survey since 1975, monitoring the tobaccos and drug use of American teens. The U.S. Surgeon General declared vaping an “epidemic” among teenagers.
What is Vaping?
E-cigarettes heat a liquid containing nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals into a vapor that you inhale, known as vaping. JUUL is one of the leading manufacturers of e-cigarettes, known for its USB-shape that resembles a flash drive, making it easy to conceal and use in public or school. E-cigarette manufacturers sell cartridges containing nicotine in a variety of flavors that appeal to teenagers, leading to dramatic increases in the number of teens using JUUL e-cigarettes.In 2018, JUUL announced that it would delete its social media accounts to limit young people’s exposure to the product. In January of 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of flavored e-cigarette cartridges, limiting them to just tobacco and menthol flavors. But this attempt to limit JUUL’s appeal to young consumers came far too late. Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical that can impede the developing brain. As a result, many teens struggle to quit.
Why is Vaping So Addictive?
JUUL cartridges, while small, contain about the same amount of nicotine as a pack of 20 cigarettes. In the early days of the product, JUUL had only a short mention of nicotine on the packaging in tiny letters. Many young users weren’t even aware that JUUL contained nicotine, let alone such a high dose of the addictive chemical.
What Injuries Can Vaping Cause?
We still don’t know all of the damage that chemicals in e-cigarettes like JUUL can cause, but research does link vaping to chronic lung disease, asthma, and cardiovascular disease. Users of JUUL have filed more than 320 lawsuits across the country. A judge combined these suits into a multi-district litigation case in federal court in San Francisco. The lawsuits claim additional injuries, including:
- Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP), a chronic lung disease that causes inflammation of the alveoli and bronchioles;
- Hemorrhagic strokes caused by a weakened blood vessel that ruptures and causes bleeding in the brain; and
- Seizures, which are a known symptom of nicotine toxicity
Should I File Suit?
If you believe that vaping and using e-cigarettes like JUUL has harmed you or a loved one, contact us at 888-910-6376 or through our online contact form. Our experienced lawyers may be able to help. Your initial consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we win compensation on your behalf.
