Juul Labs E-Cigarette Class Actions Trimmed of Tribe Member Claims

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Juul Labs E-Cigarette Class Action Overview: 

• Who: A judge sided with Juul Labs and Altria Group by permanently dismissing 19 individual plaintiffs from multidistrict litigation (MDL) involving the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.
• Why: The judge agreed with Juul’s argument that the tribes had not submitted sufficient injury allegations.
• Where: The MDL is being heard in California federal court.

Juul Labs and Altria Group successfully trimmed nearly 20 individual plaintiffs from two Native American tribes involved in consolidated litigation, including class actions, lodged against the company over the marketing of e-cigarettes. 

Juul and Altria are currently embroiled in consolidated class action lawsuits surrounding claims they have been misleading the public about the safety of their e-cigarette devices by marketing them as safer than traditional cigarettes. 

The tribes, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, claim Juul and Altria Group are guilty of racketeering and negligence by targeting their communities with their e-cigarette devices, reports Law360.

The tribes claim the companies are deceitful in marketing the nicotine devices and have caused an “e-cigarette epidemic,” reports Law360.

The judge sided in part with Juul, finding that the tribes had submitted fact sheets that were inadequately filled out. 

“The court should dismiss these plaintiffs with prejudice pursuant to its power to manage its dockets without being subject to endless noncompliance with case management orders, which is amplified in the MDL context,” Juul argued in October, reports Law360. 

Juul E-Cigarettes Harmed Members, Environment, Says Tribes’ Class Actions

Grand Traverse and Saint Regis argue their allegations of being injured are sufficient and that they have had to use their own resources to educate their communities about the dangers of the e-cigarette devices and the company’s alleged scheme. 

The tribes also claim they have suffered environmental damages as a result of hazardous waste that has infiltrated their communities as a result of the e-cigarette devices. 

Juul and Altria, meanwhile, argue the tribes’ claims stem from injuries allegedly suffered by individual tribe members—not the government as a whole—and don’t qualify under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), reports Law360.  

Grand Traverse has disagreed with the companies’ argument, claiming the damages are to the tribe as a whole and that their alleged injuries are enough to qualify for a RICO act claim.

To see if you qualify to join the Juul e-cigarette lung injury class action lawsuit investigation click here (links to paid attorney advertisement). 

The plaintiffs are represented by Sarah R. London of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP, Dena Sharp of Girard Sharp LLP, Dean Kawamoto of Keller Rohrback LLP, and Ellen Relkin of Weitz & Luxenberg PC.

The Juul Altria Native American Tribes Vaping MDL is In re: Juul Labs Inc. Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 3:19-md-02913, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Juul Class Actions Lodged by Two More School Districts Claiming Co Misrepresents Safety of Its Vaping Devices, Targets Youth
• $15M Awarded in Lawsuit Over E-Cig Battery Explosion Injuries
• Juul Wants School Districts To Go First In MDL Bellwether Trials Concerning Vaping Device Claims
• More Plaintiffs, Including Minors and School Districts, Join Multidistrict Litigation Against Juul