Juul Labs Faces Coronavirus Claims in Lawsuits Over Youth Vaping
(Bloomberg) --
Complications from the coronavirus have been added to a list of issues for which school districts and parents of nicotine-addicted teens are seeking damages from Juul Labs Inc. and other companies in the vape industry.
An amended complaint filed in San Francisco district court this week includes claims about the virus, which has sickened more than 1.5 million people around the world and led to more than 90,000 deaths. Some public health officials have cautioned that vaping could make cases more severe.
“JUUL users are also at greater risk of suffering more serious complications if they contract the coronavirus,” lawyers wrote in the complaint, filed April 6.
The lawsuit already seeks punitive damages and medical monitoring “to allow for timely treatment and prevention of exacerbation of injuries.” Other defendants include Altria Group Inc., which agreed in 2018 to buy 35% of Juul for $12.8 billion, as well as Juul executives and makers of e-liquids for vaping devices.
Juul declined to comment on the new claims.
Read More: Vaping Could Compound Health Risks Tied to Virus, FDA Says
The case is In Re: Juul Labs Inc., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).
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