A New Jersey family is suing JUUL, the popular e-cigarette company, claiming its products caused a teenager health complications and were marketed falsely. 
Some experts say the litigation against vape or e-cigarette manufactures could become similar to previous tobacco lawsuits. As of last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began describing teen vaping as an “epidemic”, saying that more than 5 million teens have admitted to trying e-cigarettes.
The New Jersey lawsuit alleges that the teen started using e-cigarettes at the age of 14 and took more than 200 inhalations a day from products, unaware of the health consequences. He now suffers from nicotine addiction, and has had bouts with coughing and vomiting.
Part of the issue is that companies began allegedly marketing flavored e-cigarettes to younger people as standard cigarette use became less widespread, experts say. This has had some disastrous consequences—CNN reported that as of last week, there have been more than 450 possible cases of lung illness associated with using e-cigarettes reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, across 33 states and the Virgin Islands.
“To combat the epidemic rise in youth use of e-cigarettes, we’re aggressively enforcing the law and investing in campaigns to educate youth about the dangers of e-cigarette use. Our educational efforts include youth-focused prevention messages on TV, digital platforms, posters in high school bathrooms, and lesson plans developed with Scholastic for educators,” the FDA said in a statement.
The NJ class action lawsuit against JUUL makes claims of fraud, failure to warn, violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and unjust enrichment, according to NJ.com. It also names Philip Morris and Altria as defendants.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of all New Jersey residents, including those under 18, who have used, become addicted to or harmed by an Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (EDNS), according to NJ.com.
The teen’s family claims it was unaware of the health consequences and did not know that products contained nicotine due to advertising practices. One law professor told NJ.com that the lawsuit could be similar to past class action cases against medical or pharmaceutical companies for defective products, which could turn out to be costly for the manufacturers.
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It is sad that so many teens are now addicted to vape or e-cigarettes and nicotine, and are suffering health consequences. The alleged marketing of these devices to teens was and is abhorrent.
If you have been injured by a dangerous or defective product, contact our Central Texas personal injury attorneys today. Our lawyers can investigate your purchase and medical history to determine if a manufacturer disregarded your health in providing you a dangerous product for sale.
You should not have to suffer because a company cared more about its bottom line than your health. Fight back. We are the personal injury law experts of Central Texas. Contact us today.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/10/health/vaping-outbreak-2019-explainer/index.html
