Minnesota settles with Juul, Altria over youth vaping allegations

Minnesota settled its lawsuit in opposition to e-cigarette firm Juul and its largest former investor, Altria, over allegations the businesses deliberately marketed to younger folks.

Lawyer Basic Keith Ellison (D) stated the phrases of the settlement will likely be stored confidential till formal papers are publicly filed with the courtroom, which is anticipated to occur within the subsequent 30 days.

Juul has been sued by quite a few states in recent times, however Minnesota’s 2019 lawsuit was the primary to go to trial. The settlement announcement comes simply earlier than closing arguments had been as a result of start.

In whole, Juul has now reached agreements with 48 states and territories. The corporate final week introduced a $462 million settlement with New York, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Mexico.

“After three weeks of trial highlighting and bringing into the general public report the actions that Juul and Altria took that contributed to the youth vaping epidemic, we reached a settlement in the very best curiosity of Minnesotans,” Ellison stated in a press release.

“One in all my targets in bringing this case was to ship a message: we is not going to tolerate youth advertising and marketing of nicotine merchandise in Minnesota. My workplace will proceed to do its half to guard children from getting hooked on these dangerous merchandise,” Elison stated.

The state was searching for greater than $100 million in damages from Juul and co-defendant Altria within the go well with.

Altria was added as a defendant in 2020 after it bought an almost $13 billion minority stake within the firm.

Altria in March ended its possession stake in Juul after the worth dropped to $250 million on the finish of final yr.

“Whereas we admire the courtroom and jury’s time, consideration, and professionalism all through the trial, we’re happy to have reached a settlement with the state and can work to finalize this settlement over the approaching weeks,” a spokesman for Juul Labs stated in a press release.

“As we attain whole decision of the corporate’s previous, we’re centered on our path ahead to maximise the worth and influence of our product expertise and scientific basis,” the corporate stated.

Juul was as soon as the preferred e-cigarette, and some years after it first hit the market in 2015 it turned a standing image for youngsters. Till regulators began cracking down, Juul was primarily free to do what it needed by way of the flavors it bought and the advertising and marketing techniques it used.

However now Juul not sells fruit-flavored cartridges, and gross sales have fallen sharply. The Meals and Drug Administration final summer season ordered Juul’s e-cigarettes off the U.S. market, however later put the ban on maintain whereas the corporate appealed.