Case Overview
Keller Rohrback L.L.P. represents multiple government entities that have spent resources addressing, or whose property has been affected by, the use of JUUL and other vapor products by the youth in Plaintiffs’ respective schools and counties.
Plaintiffs reasonably fear that Defendants’ marketing strategy, advertising, and product design targets minors, especially teenagers, and will increase the likelihood that minors, like those in Plaintiffs’ schools and counties, will begin using e-cigarettes and become addicted to Defendants’ e-cigarette products and this will cause further harm to Plaintiffs.
Plaintiffs allege that Defendants are responsible for the public health crisis of youth vaping and youth nicotine addiction. Defendants have erased years of public health progress—and the investment of public funds—in combating youth cigarette smoking. The harms caused by Defendants include, but are not limited to: (1) increased youth vaping rates; (2) increased youth nicotine addiction rates; and (3) school and county expenditures—both monetary and staff time—in implementing anti-vaping measures, developing and disseminating educational materials, identifying and supporting treatment options for youth nicotine addiction, providing resources and training to the community on issues surrounding youth vaping and youth nicotine addiction; and (4) reduced effectiveness of funding and other investments in initiatives and programs to decrease the rate of youth nicotine use.
The following entities are collectively referred to above as Defendants:
- JUUL Defendants: JUUL Labs, Inc. (“JLI”) (formerly known as PAX Labs, Inc.);
- Altria Defendants: Altria Group, Inc.; Altria Client Services LLC; Altria Group Distribution Company; Altria Enterprises LLC;
- Management Defendants: James Monsees; Adam Bowen; Nicholas Pritzker; Hoyoung Huh; and Riaz Valani; and
- RICO Defendants: the Altria Defendants and the Management Defendants.