Lieff Cabraser has filed a lawsuit against Juul Labs in California Superior Court on behalf of Maxwell Berger, a 22-year-old who suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke in July 2017 after becoming addicted to the company’s vaped tobacco products as a teenager. As a result of the stroke, Berger stayed over 100 days in the hospital and required three separate brain surgeries. Forbes notes that the lawsuit puts forth claims that Berger was left with “catastrophic and permanent injuries, such as left side paralysis, speech impairment and a 50% loss of vision from both eyes.” At the time of the incident, he was consuming two Juul-pods per day, the equivalent of smoking four full packs of old-style cigarettes. This case marks the first time the e-cigarette company has been sued over an injury this severe.
Widespread media attention has been building around Juul e-cigarettes, focusing on new studies and reports of serious dangers and heightened risks associated with Juul products, particularly for users under the age of 26. Juul products are especially popular among young adults, due to their sleek discreet design and liquid-filled cartridges (“juul pods”) that come in a variety of candy-like flavors; this generational popularity could lead to serious adverse health consequences for younger Americans.
Though just a four-year-old company, Juul has managed to capture a three-fourths share of the e-cigarette market, alledgey by (as noted in the complaint) “preying on youth through ads of young models exuding sex appeal and a sense of belonging.” “The teen vaping was by design, not by accident,” the lawsuit states, further arguing that Juul entered the market on a loophole before the FDA explicitly placed regulations on e-cigarettes.
“We are hoping that Juul takes responsibility for its conduct in targeting and luring young people to use its very dangerous products, and that they are held accountable for fair and reasonable compensation to this young man,” said Lieff Cabraser partner Sarah R. London, who represents Berger.
As noted by Forbes, the company is accused of wrongful conduct that led to Berger’s injuries. Specific charges include fraudulent concealment and intentional misrepresentation of the products and their risks, as well as negligence in promoting and selling to young people under age 26.
Contact a Juul Health Risks Lawyer at Lieff Cabraser
If you or someone you know has suffered a serious injury you believe may relate to a Juul e-cigarette, Lieff Cabraser will review your case for free without any obligation on your part. We can provide answers to your legal questions, and can inform you of your legal rights, including potential claims against Juul.
You can contact us using the form on this page, or by calling us toll-free at 1 800 321-1510. All information will be treated with the highest confidentiality, and again, there is no charge or obligation for our review of your case.
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