Juul Labs Settles Underage Vaping Lawsuit with Chicago for $23.8 Million

Juul Labs, one of the largest vaping companies in the United States, has agreed to pay $23.8 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the city of Chicago alleging that the company marketed its products to underage users. The settlement will be used by the Chicago Department of Public Health for youth prevention and reduction programs, education, and outreach initiatives.

The settlement with Chicago is just the latest in a series of payouts by Juul Labs, which has faced thousands of lawsuits brought by families of Juul users, school districts, city governments, and Native American tribes. Last year, the embattled e-cigarette giant also laid off hundreds of workers.

Marketing to Youth

According to a statement from the city of Chicago, Juul Labs “appealed to youth with their colorful, playful media and social media marketing and used high nicotine contents to fuel ongoing use.” The company has been accused of using marketing tactics that specifically targeted underage users, including creating advertisements with bright colors and flavors that appeal to young people.

In response to the settlement, a spokesman for Juul Labs called it “another step in our ongoing commitment to resolve issues from the past, place our company on a path forward, and fulfill our mission to transition adult smokers away from combustible cigarettes while combating underage use of our products.”

FDA Involvement

Juul Labs has faced scrutiny from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in recent years. Last June, the FDA ordered Juul to stop marketing and distributing its products in the United States to protect public health. However, the FDA later placed a temporary hold on its decision following a legal challenge from Juul Labs. The FDA is now conducting an additional review of the company’s products.

The settlement between Juul Labs and the city of Chicago underscores the growing concerns about underage vaping and the aggressive marketing tactics used by some e-cigarette companies. As more cities and states take legal action against companies like Juul Labs, it remains to be seen how the vaping industry will respond and whether these efforts will be enough to protect public health.